A/HRC/13/31 451. In a communication dated 21 July 2009, the Government provided information on one case which did not lead to clarification. 452. In a communication dated 4 August 2009, the Government replied to the request for a visit by the Working Group. 453. In a communication dated 18 September 2009, the Government provided information on nine cases. The information was considered insufficient to lead to a clarification. Information from sources 454. Sources provided information on two cases, which did not lead to a clarification. Communication from the Working Group 455. On 22 January 2009, the Working Group sent an urgent communication together with other three special procedures mechanisms on the killing of a lawyer and a journalist due to their involvement in investigating enforced or involuntary disappearances. On 11 May 2009, the Government provided information on the course of investigations with regard to circumstances of the murders of the above-mentioned persons. Prompt intervention 456. On 9 December 2008, the Working Group sent a prompt intervention together with other two special procedures mechanisms, regarding the break-in and search of the offices of the Memorial Research Centre and the confiscation of digital data and archives. In the communication dated 21 January 2009, the Government replied to this prompt intervention. Press release 457. On 21 July 2009, the Working Group, together with other six special procedures mechanisms, issued a press release requesting the Russian authorities to extend an invitation to visit the country to assist the authorities in conducting an independent investigation into a series of killings of human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists in recent years, many of them related to the human rights situation in Chechnya and other Republics of the North Caucasus, including the killing of Natalia Estemirova (the full text of the press release can be consulted at: http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/ view01/D86B6553863678F3C12575FA00433DEC?opendocument). Request for a visit 458. On 4 June 2008, the Working Group reiterated its interest to undertake a visit to the Russian Federation and the first quarter of 2009 was suggested as possible date. On 20 July 2009, a reminder letter was sent. On 4 August 2009 the Government informed the Working Group that, due to the limited capacities of the country and other engagements, is unable to extend an invitation to visit the country. Total cases transmitted, clarified and outstanding 459. Since its establishment, the Working Group has transmitted 478 cases to the Government; of those, 10 cases have been clarified on the basis of information provided by sources, one case has been clarified on the basis of information provided by the Government, and 467 remain outstanding. 96 GE.09-17704

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