Can a few fine words shed light into the dark corners of Russian justice even when they come from President Dmitry Medvedev? No, not unless they are followed by hard action.

Mr Medvedev did well to condemn the brutal killing last week of a leading human rights lawyer working in blood-soaked Chechnya and to make clear he suspected a connection between the murder of Natalia Estemirova and her work documenting human rights abuses. Ms Estemirova had been collecting statements from witnesses of alleged violence from law enforcers – including the Kadyrovtsy, armed bands loyal to Ramzan Kadyrov, the Moscow-appointed Chechen president.