Anna Politkovskaya
(1958-2006)

Russian Journalist & Political Activist
1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005

birthdate: August 30
birthplace: New York City

Bio | Quotes | Links | ColorMe Pix

Anna Politkovskaya (born Anna Mazepa) was a Russian journalist and political activist who gained international attention with her reports about human rights abuses in Chechnya. Anna's parents were both Soviet Ukranian diplomats to the United Nations and Anna grew up in Moscow, majoring in journalism at Moscow State University. As a professional journalist, Anna was outspoken in her defense of human rights and criticism of the Russian government's role in human rights abuses in Chechnya. She advocated for the legal rights of victims and helped to negotiate the release of hostages in Chechnya several times. Anna received many death threats during her life, but continued to write articles and books to raise awareness about the injustice she observed, until she was assassinated. Her death brought an outcry from within Russia and around the world for governments to do more to protect journalists and defend freedom of the press.