Spring Break
Journalist dies in country without our freedoms
Jose Dewitt
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Forum
Imagine a place where journalists are killed for writing the truth about their government. Welcome to Moscow.
A couple years ago, a story was released about Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian human rights journalist who played a very prominent role in the news during the Russian war in Chechnya. She was found dead in her apartment in October of 2006.
Politkovskaya became well-known by not only the common people, but also the Russian government, which tried to quiet her stories on torture, executions, kidnapping and human trafficking.
Politkovskaya wrote many articles that questioned the motives of politicians within the Russian government. Needless to say, some of her subjects felt threatened by her stories.
Russia's then-president, Vladimir Putin, had little to say about the crimes committed against one of Moscow's most renowned reporters, except that he felt her influence on politics in Russia was "insignificant." Apparently Anna's death didn't bother him too much.
Police and investigators concluded that her death was ordered to keep her silent, and there was also suspected involvement of state officials. There were many theories of why, or who was at the root of the crime, but eventually 10 men were arrested, three of whom were found guilty.
This seems like a somewhat happy ending to a tragic story, but we wouldn't be so lucky. On Feb. 19 of this year, the jury for the case for Politkovskaya's murder acquitted the three men charged and they were released.
It is obvious that times have gotten so perilous for members of the press: since the year 2000, 16 journalists have been murdered, including Anastasia Baburova, who was shot on Jan. 19 of this year. Unfortunately, none of the criminals who organized these killings have been found, and only one case has resulted in a conviction.
Although the case of Anna Politkovskaya was declared reopened by the judge only a day later, the three men are still roaming free, proving to Moscow and the world that journalists who discover and expose hidden truths should be scared for their lives.
A couple years ago, a story was released about Anna Politkovskaya, a Russian human rights journalist who played a very prominent role in the news during the Russian war in Chechnya. She was found dead in her apartment in October of 2006.
Politkovskaya became well-known by not only the common people, but also the Russian government, which tried to quiet her stories on torture, executions, kidnapping and human trafficking.
Politkovskaya wrote many articles that questioned the motives of politicians within the Russian government. Needless to say, some of her subjects felt threatened by her stories.
Russia's then-president, Vladimir Putin, had little to say about the crimes committed against one of Moscow's most renowned reporters, except that he felt her influence on politics in Russia was "insignificant." Apparently Anna's death didn't bother him too much.
Police and investigators concluded that her death was ordered to keep her silent, and there was also suspected involvement of state officials. There were many theories of why, or who was at the root of the crime, but eventually 10 men were arrested, three of whom were found guilty.
This seems like a somewhat happy ending to a tragic story, but we wouldn't be so lucky. On Feb. 19 of this year, the jury for the case for Politkovskaya's murder acquitted the three men charged and they were released.
It is obvious that times have gotten so perilous for members of the press: since the year 2000, 16 journalists have been murdered, including Anastasia Baburova, who was shot on Jan. 19 of this year. Unfortunately, none of the criminals who organized these killings have been found, and only one case has resulted in a conviction.
Although the case of Anna Politkovskaya was declared reopened by the judge only a day later, the three men are still roaming free, proving to Moscow and the world that journalists who discover and expose hidden truths should be scared for their lives.
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