Investigative Journalist Anna Politkovskaya Murdered

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, Ranking Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, expressed sorrow and outrage after learning of the killing of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Ms.Politkovskaya was gunned down outside of her Moscow apartment on Oct. 7.
 
Ms. Politkovskaya was a prize-winning journalist for the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta.  She gained recognition for her extensive and balanced reporting on Chechnya. 
 
“Truth in journalism is a commodity with an immense price tag in today's Russia," said Rep. Cardin, D-MD.  “The assassination of Anna Politkovskaya places in jeopardy the life of every journalist in Russia who attempts to tell the truth about events in that country.”  
 
In 2003, Ms. Politkovskaya was awarded the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Parliamentary Assembly Prize for Journalism and Democracy for her reporting critical of President Vladmir Putin and Russia’s policies in Chechnya.  She exposed the brutal methods used by some elements of the Russian military forces against Chechen civilians.

Rep. Cardin attended the OSCE meeting in Vienna in which Ms. Politkovskya received the Prize for her work. She was one of Russia’s most distinguished investigative journalists and was a strong force for democracy.  

The U.S. Helsinki Commission is an independent agency of the U.S. government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other commitments of the 56 participating States in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

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