Human Rights Lawyer and Journalist Gunned Down in Moscow

Stanislav Markelov a lawyer, who fought for human rights in Russia and a journalist with him were gunned down in broad daylight in central Moscow. The murder occurred after they left a press conference where he announced that he was going to continue to fight against the release of a a former army commander who killed a Chechen woman. Markelov has previously fought against army abuses committed in Chechnya and against neo-fascist groups and had worked with the slain journalist, Anna Politkovskaya. Anastasia Baburova a journalist who was with Markelov was killed worked for the Novaya Gazeta, a newspaper, that has often been critical of the government.- NY Times