On this eighth anniversary of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya the members of the Association of European Journalists across Europe pay tribute to her outstanding courage and the example she showed by putting her own life at risk to tell the truth to her own people and to the world. Truth-telling by independent journalism with the active support of people of conscience must overcome Intimidation and repression wherever it occurs.
The AEJ supports the vital work of the free and inquiring journalists in today’s Russia, who work in an environment of intimidation and inadequate protection from the state. They deserve to live and work in a safe and enabling environment. We call on governments everywhere to fulfil their public commitment to bring that about.
The AEJ joins Amnesty International and other organisations in calling urgently on the Russian authorities to effectively investigate Anna Politkovskaya’s murder, bring all the killers to justice including the masterminds, remove the existing oppressive and undemocratic barriers to reporters in Russia, and ensure safe working conditions for journalists and media workers in Russia.