Is Journalism Worth Dying For?: Final Dispatches (58 page)

She was on the side of the humiliated. The powers that be she found equally repellent, whichever side they were on. She was not seduced by the interest taken in her by Zbigniew Brzezinski or people from the US State Department, and her report on the reception for the “esteemed democrats of Russia” by Bush and Rice at the US Ambassador’s residence was written in the vein of light political satire.

It is not true that there was no reaction to her writing. Back in the days of Kadyrov Senior, one of his henchmen angrily shouted at the local and Moscow journalists, “Politkovskaya writes in a way that makes people believe her, but you …” He dismissed them contemptuously.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Friends and family of Anna! Please accept my profound condolences.

Marina Kostenetskaya, former People’s Deputy of the USSR from Latvia (1989–91), Riga

I do not know whether the Orthodox Church will canonise Anna Politkovskaya, and neither do I care. For me Anna was a saint. For me she is still alive, because I often go to her memorial website and meet there a circle of people who think and feel as I do. With these people Anna generously continues to acquaint me. They helped me to survive, and accordingly it is precisely Anna who helps me to live worthily the fragment of life’s path allotted me by fate.

Thank you, Anna, for having been among us. Neither Putin, nor his evil henchmen, nor your pro-Kremlin journalist colleagues have been able to kill you. In this undeclared war of honor against dishonor you have come out the winner for eternity. May your name be revered!

Vytautas Landsbergis, Member of the European Parliament for Lithuania

They have killed Anna Politkovskaya.

She stood selflessly, squarely, and looked the new, or perhaps merely
reawakening, Russian fascism straight in the eye. They tried to kill her earlier. She stood up for the humiliated and insulted, against untruths and arbitrariness. The fewer such champions remain, the brighter does their example shine in the night and the more clearly is their voice heard, which is so unwelcome to gross ears. One cannot pass over in silence either the weakness of the Russian democrats or the indifference of Western democrats, all of whom are complicit in her death. But who will fill this new yawning breach for Russia?

Galina Starovoitova once told her Russian democratic comrades-in-arms, “If men are cowards, a woman will lead.” In January 1991 in Moscow she led a 100,000-strong demonstration, despite the warnings of the Armed Forces, under the slogan of “Freedom for Lithuania!” She was later murdered in just the same way, in her stairwell, and in this instance too those who took out the contract will not be found. But will men be found capable of standing up for the entrancing star of decency and freedom? That would be a worthy rejoinder.

From Lithuania, condolences to the family of this woman who died for truth and to the last remaining Russian democrats.

Yevgeniya Lyozina, Student

Anna Politkovskaya. I saw her only a few times, and never met her personally. A young, good-looking woman. Born in 1958, the same year as my mother. Very composed and self-assured. It is impossible to forget people like her, because your first impression when you meet them is that they are real human beings, and that is how you remember them. Like many others, I can see that this murder was committed because Anna Politkovskaya’s activity gave no peace to those in our country who are violating all the laws of truth.

I am still not very old and, looking at the example of this courageous woman, I want to live my life honorably, as she did. For that, as I understand it, I must be sure always to stay close to the truth. As regards Anna Politkovskaya, truth was undoubtedly and always on her side.

People kill, or more precisely take out contracts for the killing, of those they fear. Those who rode to power in our country on anti-Chechen chauvinism, on their willingness to “burst into the latrines and snuff out” their supposed enemies, fear most of all that the truth should become known about what this bravado of theirs has turned out to be. They are afraid of the truth about Beslan and
Nord-Ost
, about the deaths of civilians, tortures, security sweeps, a war which has lasted many years. We all know, as they do themselves, that in recent years it was primarily Anna Politkovskaya in
Novaya gazeta
who told the truth about this. She spoke intelligently and professionally, which was important in getting her message heard. It was heard in Russia, as always, however, only by those who had ears to hear, and by those beyond its borders. During my recent visit to London it was amazing to see Anna Politkovskaya’s books on the shelves of all the bookshops. They are bestsellers there, people read them! And of course, that annoyed “them.” It annoyed those who unleashed and supported the war in Chechnya. The truth Anna told was a slap in the face for those who constantly lie to us, trying to treat us as useful idiots.

In recent times every day has seen the feeling of shame grow in me for Russia and for all of us, its citizens. I am ashamed to live in a country where those in power have no conscience or intelligence. This is mainly because I believe that any people gets the government it deserves.

On the other hand, hope grows in me when I remember that there are still some in Russia like Anna Politkovskaya. Such stars shine apparently unpredictably, perhaps once in a lifetime, but in the surrounding darkness you are dazzled by the unexpected light they radiate. I know for a fact that, having once encountered such a star and having understood her significance, it is impossible to carry on living as you did before. The encounter makes the darkness only too depressingly obvious, and the light from such a star is imprinted in the memory and provides eternal guidance. It can even provoke a feeling of envy.

Lyuba
, Nord-Ost

Anna was umbilically attached to the
Nord-Ost
tragedy. These last four years she has been the mouthpiece of
Nord-Ost
, supporting those of us who had lost our friends and relatives in that gas chamber. She helped us to prevail in the unequal battle with a lying government. She was not allowed to attend the court hearings into
Nord-Ost;
the investigators and judges of the Basmanny court were afraid of her. They were afraid of her truth and irreconcilability. How fearsome the truth about crimes must be and how dangerous for those complicit in them if, in order to silence it, they have to resort to the gun. “What are we going to let them get away with tomorrow?” Anna would say when we assembled on the anniversaries of the tragedy. Alas, we are again too late. We have allowed them to kill Anna, perhaps the most loyal friend of those she tried to save, persuading terrorists to let children and adults drink, whom the Government had condemned to a monstrous death. She will not be there at the anniversary on October 26. We have been orphaned.

Memorial Human Rights Centre

It is almost impossible to believe. We all feel that we have lost someone close to us. Anna Politkovskaya was a much greater champion of human rights than many of those who apply that description to themselves. She took to heart the problems of those who work in Chechnya as closely and passionately as her own. Now we can reveal that in the Caucasus Anna Politkovskaya worked constantly with members of Memorial, travelled together with them throughout the Republic, stayed in their homes. She constantly used materials from Memorial, sometimes referencing them, sometimes not, in order not to set anybody up. She herself appeared to live a charmed life, but it was a principle to publish everything, irrespective of the possible consequences. Only bullets could stop her. Will those bullets stop her cause? That now depends on the living.

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany

It is essential to find the culprits if there is to be any possibility of living in democratic conditions.

Niotkuda

A completely weird sense of emptiness, of loss, and powerlessness. It is dreadful to live in a country where crudity and barbarism reign. It is dreadful that nothing can be changed. I am 20. I am studying to be a journalist. I often read Politkovskaya’s articles. Actually, she was the reason I bought
Novaya gazeta
. I do not know what kind of journalist I will turn out to be, but I will most certainly follow Anna’s example. Revered be her memory!

Ursula Plassnik, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria

This vile and shameful crime. There have been too many unsolved murders of journalists in Russia. If Russia wants to be a democratic law-governed state it cannot intimidate independent journalists or silence them. Without freedom of the press and criticism from their direction, the democratic system of values cannot exist.

Polina, England

Lord, how full of sadness I am! How dreadful! I am studying to be a journalist in England. I read Anna’s book,
Putin’s Russia
. What a shame that it is not available at home, in Russia, because my family do not know English very well. When I heard the news, many of my foreign friends tried to console me by saying that she had taken the blow on herself, that by her death she would force world public opinion to to take action, that now all the newspapers would bring pressure to bear on Russia, but how can I explain to people who have not lived there that our country does not care about world opinion? I sincerely hope that my friends are right. How can I express the pain and fear, and
how are we to live without such journalists as Anna Stepanovna now? May you rest in peace.

A Priest of the Russian Church

It is a great pity that there is so little room in present-day Russia for an honest person. I did not take much interest in politics, thinking it was not my business, but now I understand that Anna did everything in her power to avert the triumph of evil in our country. I thank her for opening my eyes to many things, and pray for the repose of her soul.

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation

[Dresden, October 10, 2006, at a joint press conference with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel]

Right, if you will permit me, I will also say a couple of words on this topic. First of all I would like to note that no matter who committed this crime and no matter what motives these people had, we must confirm that this is a crime of vile brutality. And of course it should not be … should not remain unpunished. The motives may be highly diverse. Yes indeed, this journalist was a harsh critic of the present authorities in Russia, but I think that journalists should know this, at least experts are well aware of this, the extent of her influence on political life in the country, in Russia, was extremely insignificant. She was known in journalistic circles, in human rights circles, in the West. I repeat, her influence on political life in Russia was minimal. And the murder of such a person, the cruel murder of a woman, a mother, it was directed of itself also against our country, against Russia, against the current government authorities in Russia. And this murder of itself inflicts on Russia much, and on the current government authorities both in Russia and in the Chechen Republic, where she was active professionally recently, inflicts on the current government authorities a far greater loss and
damage than her publications. This is an absolutely obvious fact for everybody in Russia. But I repeat, no matter who this was and no matter what motives these people were guided by, they are criminals. They must be found, unmasked and punished. We will do all that is required for this.

The United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is Interviewed by
Novaya gazeta

Condoleezza Rice:
Thank you very much. First let me say that I am very much saddened, as was the entire world, by the brutal murder of Anna Politkovskaya. She was a heroine to many people.

She stood for what is best in independent journalism, a willingness to try to get to the truth at whatever cost. And if I may just say to you, Ilya, that while I know the world has lost someone who was a symbol, you have lost your mother and we are very saddened by that. But her work goes on, and
Novaya gazeta
is a fine publication that I think represents a very good independent voice here in Russia.

The role of the independent press is extremely important in society, particularly for democratic development. And it’s important not just because it is an important value to have an independent press, although it is one of the most important values of democracy. But it also is important to the proper functioning of government in democracy.

People need information in order to hold their government accountable. And only through an independent press can that information be developed and communicated. And whether it is in fighting corruption or questioning government policies or communicating to the Government the concerns of people, an independent press plays an extremely important role.

I want to encourage you to keep working. It is extremely important work, and we are very supportive of the role of independent media here in Russia. We know it has not been easy, but it is an important path – an important road – even if it’s not an easy one …

Dmitriy Muratov:
Madam Secretary of State, we will of course continue our work, but this is our newspaper’s third terrible loss in the last six years. In 2000 Igor Domnikov was killed by hitmen, who are presently on trial. He was murdered because of his professional work, and the contract on him was taken out by a corrupt official who is the Deputy Governor of one of Russia’s provinces. Three years ago the Deputy Editor of
Novaya gazeta
, Yury Shchekochikhin, Deputy of the State Duma and Chairman of its Commission for the Struggle against Corruption, also died in mysterious circumstances. The case has yet to be investigated. Now Anna has been murdered. Is this not too high a price to pay for the right to do your job?