Remembering Anna Politkovskaya: A Journalist’s Courage That Still Resonates

April 26, 2025 – General – 

Nearly two decades after her assassination, Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya remains a towering figure in the fight for press freedom. Recent reflections by actress Maxine Peake and renewed commentary on Politkovskaya’s life highlight the enduring power—and peril—of speaking truth to power in authoritarian regimes.

Politkovskaya, known for her fearless reporting on the Chechen wars and Vladimir Putin’s government, was murdered in 2006 outside her Moscow apartment. She had received death threats and was repeatedly targeted for her relentless investigations into human rights abuses, particularly by the Russian military. Her killing sent shockwaves through the global journalism community and became a symbol of the dangers faced by reporters who challenge the state.

Peake, who recently took on the role of Politkovskaya in a stage production, shared in a heartfelt essay that researching and portraying the late journalist revealed a level of moral and physical bravery she doubts she could ever match. Politkovskaya continued her work despite constant harassment, surveillance, and multiple attempts to silence her, including an attempt to poison her aboard a flight in 2004.

The play, and Peake’s reflections, aim not only to honor Politkovskaya’s legacy but also to raise awareness about the increasing threats journalists face worldwide. In today’s climate of shrinking press freedoms, from Russia to Western democracies, Politkovskaya’s story feels more urgent than ever.

Commentators have noted that her legacy is not just about the high price she paid, but the example she set: that journalism must remain independent and fearless, even under the shadow of state repression. In remembering her, they also remind the world of the journalists currently at risk in war zones, autocratic states, and even democratic nations where the media is increasingly attacked and delegitimized.

Politkovskaya’s voice was silenced, but her impact endures, inspiring generations of journalists and artists alike to keep asking dangerous questions in dangerous times.

Reference – 

Telling the incredible tale of Anna Politkovskaya has taught me one thing: I could never be that brave | Maxine Peake

https://qoshe.com/the-guardian/maxine-peake/telling-the-incredible-tale-of-anna-politkovskaya-has-taught-me-one-thing-i-could-never-be-that-bra/182199932

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/26/anna-politkovskaya-brave-threats-journalists