Medvedev says determined to solve rights activist's murder

OBERSCHLEISSHEIM, Germany (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in his first public comments on the murder of a prominent Russian human rights activist, said on Thursday he was determined to solve the "very sad" crime and punish those responsible.

Medvedev was answering a question about the killing on Wednesday of Natalia Estemirova, who was best known for her work documenting human rights abuses in the troubled Muslim region of Chechnya.

"It is a very sad event, it was linked to her professional activities," Medvedev said. "... it will be investigated in the most thorough way."

The Russian leader was speaking at a news conference held with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a visit to Germany to discuss an agenda dominated by business issues.

(Reporting by Gleb Bryanski, writing by Michael Stott)