Natalya Estemirova is dead. Another in the astonishing sequence of Russian activists, who, in spite of the dangers, refuse to let the lies lie down.   Anna Politkovskaya was the one most people heard of, and now Natalya. She was kidnapped in Chechnya, just after Human Rights Watch published its latest indictment of both sides in the war, but in particular fingering Vladimir Putin for war crimes. Curiously enough, she ends up being murdered.

It is hard for the cynical and jaded about the search for the truth to face up to the fact that some people think it is worth their lives to keep on.   Heroes and heroines are a dime a dozen in the media these days. Natalya was the real thing.

yours,

Peter T.