Is journalism worth dying for?

A tribute to Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya

By Gulnara Akhundova, International Media Support (IMS)

The 7 October remains a dark day in history for independent, investigative journalism in Russia. Ten years ago today, Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative journalist who exposed the brutality of Russia’s war in Chechnya and addressed other issues related to government, was murdered in the lobby of her apartment block in Moscow.

The first two shots hit Politkovskaya in the chest, the third in the shoulder. By the time her killer fired a final shot into her skull, 48 year old Politkovskaya, a mother of two, was already dead. A decade on, the wound left by Politkovskaya’s murder is still open, and there has been no let-up in demands for the proper investigation of this case.

Anna Politkovskaya epitomised journalistic ideals, a person so dedicated to her craft that she remained undeterred by the threats she received, continuing to report on Chechnya – one of the most dangerous regions in Russia.

Politkovskaya once said: “People sometimes pay with their lives for saying aloud what they think. In fact, one can even get killed for giving me information. I am not the only one in danger. I have examples that prove it.”[1]

Since the brutal murder of Politkovskaya, the conditions for independent media in Russia have deteriorated. Journalists who pursue stories on state corruption, Russia’s activities in foreign countries, and any other issues implicating governmental officials are at serious risk of retribution from the state.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 13 reporters have been assassinated since 2006, while Freedom House noted that nearly in all murder cases of journalists, perpetrators enjoy impunity from prosecution. Anna Politkovskaya’s murder is no exception – while the alleged killers have been sentenced to life in prison, the true masterminds behind the attack were never apprehended.

Politkovskaya was trying to answer the question whether journalism was worth dying for. It is certainly worth fighting for and efforts will continue to bring the perpetrators to justice.