Secretary of State
Today marks 15 years since journalist and human rights defender Anna Politkovskaya was killed in Moscow for her brave work bringing to light human rights abuses in the conflict in Chechnya and giving voice to its victims. We again urge that all of those involved in her murder be identified and held accountable for their crimes. The continued impunity for those who ordered Politkovskaya’s murder undermines freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and broader human rights in Russia.
As we commemorate Politkovskaya’s legacy, we recognize the courage and persistence of independent Russian journalists—many unfairly designated as “foreign agents”—working today in the face of repression. We stand with them today and every day.