Anna Politkovskaya’s murder discussed worldwide

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International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) sharply condemned Anna Politkovskaya’s murder, calling it “shocking outrage that will stun journalist across the world.”

“The Russian authorities must carry out an urgent and intensive investigation. We need to know who killed our colleague and who ordered the attack in the first place,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.  

“She was the bravest of the new breed of brave reporters who emerged in the dying days of the Soviet Union,” said White. “She faced down threats from all sides and was an inspiration to journalists both at home and abroad.”

According to the IFJ head, Politkovskaya’s death “highlights the desperate and fragile state of democracy in Russia,” as well as lawlessness and defenselessness of Russian journalists. 

The OSCE Chairman-in-office, Belgium Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht has reacted to the well-known journalists’ death, stating that he was shocked by it and calling to find murderers as soon as possible.  

On October 8, action in memory of Anna Politkovskaya took place at Frankfurt book fair, initiated by the fair’s organizers. Transparency with inscription “Frankfurt book fair mourns in connection with Anna Politkovskaya’s murder” appeared in the fair’s pavilion. Publishers, who published Politkovskaya’s books abroad, journalists and human rights activists, including Chairman of the International Memorial Society Arseny Roginsky, President of Norwegian PEN-Club Kjell Olaf Jensen, and others spoke during the action.