AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA
PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

(Washington, DC) Amnesty International has called on President Vladimir Putin to condemn the murder of Anna Politkovskaya and show that there can be no impunity for such crimes, the organization announced today. This action would demonstrate his support for human rights defenders and independent journalists and the vital and legitimate role they play in Russian society.

Amnesty International is appalled at the October 7 murder of journalist Politkovskaya. The organization believes that Politkovskaya was in all likelihood targeted because of her work as a journalist, reporting on human rights abuses in Chechnya and other regions of the Russian Federation.

In a letter to President Putin, Irene Khan, Amnesty International's Secretary General, said:

"We believe that it is crucial for such a strong political statement of support to come from the highest authority in Russia, the president. The statement should make clear that attacks on independent journalists and human rights defenders are unacceptable and that perpetrators of such attacks will face vigorous investigation and prosecution," Khan wrote.

"We note that the office of the procuracy was swift to open an investigation into her murder, and that Yuri Chaika, Procurator General, has taken charge of this investigation. We are urging the Russian authorities to ensure that this investigation be prompt, thorough and impartial, with the findings made public, and that suspected perpetrators be brought to justice in accordance with international law."

Amnesty International has also noted that President Putin has stated that all necessary measures will be taken to investigate Politkovskaya's murder, and that the president and prime minister of the Chechen Republic have spoken out against her murder.

Together with other Russian and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), Amnesty International wrote to President Putin in March of this year, in the run up to Russia taking on the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, asking him to make a statement in support of human rights defenders and independent media.

The organization also asked President Putin to personally ensure that the authorities investigate all reported instances of harassment, intimidation and threats of human rights defenders and independent journalists in Russia, and that officials at every level of the state apparatus, including law enforcement officials, respect the legitimacy of the work of human rights defenders and independent journalists and allow them to carry out their work without hindrance or harassment.

Politkovskaya worked closely with Amnesty International USA over the years, including traveling to the United States in 2001 to raise awareness about the ongoing conflict in Chechnya with lawmakers, reporters and the public.

"Anna was dedicated to giving voice to those who could not be heard," said Joshua Rubenstein, Amnesty International USA?s Northeast Regional Director. "Her books, A Dirty War: A Russian reporter in Chechnya and Small Corner of Hell: Dispatches from Chechnya, and her reporting in the Russian press were a significant and compelling source of information about the Chechnya war and abuses by Russian forces. She will be sorely missed."

On Wednesday, October 11, Amnesty International members will hold a silent vigil in front of the Russian Federation Mission to the United Nations to condemn the Politkovskaya murder and to demand an independent investigation. The vigil will begin at 4 PM EDT.

For more information regarding the vigil, please contact the AIUSA press office at 212.633.4268.

Contact: Sharon Singh, AIUSA Media at 202.544.0200 x289

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