The European Council urged Russian authorities to "swiftly and thoroughly investigate the murder of Natalya Estemirova and to bring the perpetrators to justice."

Estemirova's murder "draws attention to the necessity of protecting human rights defenders in Russia," the Council's statement added.

The Council's statement follows a similar condemnation from the EU Presidency, currently held by Sweden, which took over the rotating six-month presidency of the 27-nation bloc on July 1.

"We condemn that brutal act and call for the authorities to try to establish who is responsible and take the action that is called for," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt. "The Presidency urges the Russian authorities to swiftly and thoroughly investigate the murder of Natalya Estemirova and to bring the perpetrators to justice. Her murder draws attention to the necessity of protecting human rights defenders in Russia."

The newly elected president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, also called on Moscow to investigate the murder.

"We in the European Parliament have appreciated her work in the fields of human rights, promoting democratic accountability and the implementation of the rule of law," he said. "We strongly call on the authorities of the Russian Federation to start a fully fledged inquiry into her death and do their utmost to bring those responsible for this tragic death to face justice."

Medvedev and Merkel discuss murder

Meanwhile, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed Estemirova's murder at a press conference following bilateral talks in Munich on Thursday.

"The murder of our human rights activist is of course a very sad event," Medvedev said. "In contrast to earlier incidences, it is clear in this case: the murder was connected to her activity (as an activist)."

"She spoke the truth and openly, sometimes toughly described some processes that happen in this country," Medvedev added. "That is the value of a rights activist - even if these things are not pleasant and uncomfortable for the authorities."

Merkel told reporters gathered at Munich's Schleissheim palace that the killing was "an unacceptable event."

"I think that on the Russian side, everything must be done to catch the killer," she said.

Steinmeier, EU Greens add voices

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also condemned the murder. “I am dismayed over the murder of Natalia Estemirova and strongly condemn this cowardly act,” Steinmeier said in a statement released by the Foreign Office.

"Natalia Estemirova was a courageous fighter for human rights in the north Caucasus. Those behind the act must now be quickly captured and the planners exposed," Steinmeier added.

The leaders of the Greens bloc in the EU assembly also released a statement. "We deplore the cowardly murder of the exceptional and dedicated human rights activist Natalya Estemirova," the statement read.

The statement called "for a full and independent investigation into her abduction and murder. The Russian judiciary system must put an end to its dismal track record on such cases and for once act urgently and with due diligence."

Estemirova, 50, was abducted on Wednesday morning by unknown persons after leaving her home in Grozny, the capital of the republic of Chechnya.

Her body was found near the city of Nazran in Ingushetia, the region bordering on Chechnya, ITAR-TASS news agency said, citing the regional interior ministry. Russian news reports said Estemirova's body had multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

Activist linked to Kremlin accusations

Estemirova, who was thought to have been abducted hours earlier in the Chechen capital Grozny, worked for the leading Russian rights group Memorial which has exposed a string of abuses in the conflict-torn region and has accused the current Russian government of complicity.

In 2007 Estemirova was awarded the Anna Politkovskaya prize – named after the murdered Russian journalist, her friend and collaborator – by the Nobel Women's Initiative, a group established by female Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

na/AFP/dpa

Editor: Chuck Penfold