A book on Chechnya that took courage to write – and deserves to be read.
I've just finished Lana Estemirova's Please Live, and I thoroughly recommend it for those interested in Chechnya.
The book is a powerful autobiography from the daughter of human rights activist Natalya Estemirova, who was killed by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's security forces in July 2009. No one was ever prosecuted for the crime, demonstrating the impunity that prevails in the republic.
The story presented is a highly personal account of conflict and identity, and it captures well the courage and sacrifices of her mother, who was ultimately murdered for her work. But it also reflects the costs born by her daughter as a result of that work – which was often pursued at the expense of her family.
I've never had the privilege to meet Lana, but she comes across as mature and courageous in her own way – recounting a difficult story without succumbing to bitterness. A comment she made in a recent interview captures this well: "if everyone who fights for freedom were to pick their family first, I guess there would never be any progress."
A recent article in The Guardian offers more details on the book, as well as a new documentary on Natasha Estemirova: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/06/she-lived-without-fear-daughter-of-chechen-journalist-publishes-book-she-vowed-to-pen-after-murder-natalia-estemirova
And if you're interested in learning more about the crimes of the Kadyrovs, I regularly cover them in my newsletter: https://threatologist.com/newsletter/