10.10.2006
Anna Politkovskaya was aspecial correspondent for the Russian twice-weekly newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was known for hersharp pen and level head. Famous for her reporting onthe warin Chechnya, her work in helping mediate the Nord-Ost theatre siege and her criticisms of the Putin administration, shereceived numerous internationalawards including: First Prize of the Lettre Ulysses Award (2003) Hermann-Kesten Medal, PEN Germany (2003) Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women's Media Foundation (2002) Most Courageous Defence of Free Expression from Index on Censorship (2002) Special Award of Amnesty International (2001)
She also wrote several books including: A Small Corner of Hell: Dispatches from Chechnya The Dirty War Putin's Russia: Life in a Failing Democracy Russia Under Putin
For her work, she also incured numerous death threats.While on her way to Beslan during the school siege there, she was poisoned on board the airplane but later recovered. Then, on October 7th, 2006, she was shot dead in the elevatorof her apartment complex.She was to file a lengthy investigative report on torture in Chechnya - photographs of the torturers have since disappeared.
For more information on Anna Politkovskaya, her death, and world reaction to it, see the newly expanded Wikipedia entry.
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ATribute to Anna Politkovskaya
Lord Rea invites journalists and friends to join in a Tribute to Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian journalist who was murdered in a contract killing in an elevator at the entrance of her apartment block in Moscow on Saturday 7th October 2006. It will be held at the House of Lords at 2.30pm on 13th October 2006. You are also invited to join a laying of flowers in memory of Anna at Westminster Abbey led by Vanessa Redgrave prior to the Tribute.
Date: Friday, 13 October 2006
Time & Place: 1.30pm laying of flowers in memory of Anna
Politkovskaya at the Innocent Victims Memorial at the West Door of Westminster Abbey (gather at West Door at 1.15pm) led by Vanessa Redgrave.
Time & Place: 2.30pm, Committee Room 3, House of Lords A
Tribute to Anna Politkovskaya
Host: Lord Rea
Speakers: Akhmed Zakaev - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Chechen Republic CRI (1997) Bill Bowring - European Human Rights Advocacy Centre; Baroness Ludford MEP Andrei Nekrasov, Russian film director Vanessa Redgrave
Lord Rea says: "Anna Politkovskaya's death is a tragic loss for freedom of speech in Russia. She represented the best of investigative journalism, and I invite all those who admired her work and her courage to join us on Friday."
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