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Photo of Anna Politkovskaya

Photo: Blaues Sofa / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Anna Politkovskaya

American journalist

August 30, 1958 – October 7, 2006 · New York City, New York, United States

  • New York
  • journalist
  • human rights defender
  • writer

Anna Politkovskaya was born in New York City, New York, United States on August 30, 1958. Anna Politkovskaya was a journalist, human rights defender and writer. Death is recorded on October 7, 2006, at the age of 48. Listed accolades include Geschwister-Scholl-Preis (2007), Hermann Kesten Prize (2003), Olof Palme Prize (2004) and 5 more. Credited works include Putin's Russia and A Small Corner of Hell: Dispatches from Chechnya.

My Take

The data lists Anna Politkovskaya as American, but the journalist I know was a Russian investigative reporter who risked everything covering the Chechen wars and the abuses of power around them. She was murdered in 2006, shot in the elevator of her own building, and the long list of honors she received, from the Sakharov Prize to a World Press Freedom Hero designation, is really a map of the dangers she walked into. I admire her more than almost any celebrity in this database. She paid the ultimate price for the simple act of telling the truth, and that is a name worth refusing to forget.

1. Profile

Name (English)
Anna Politkovskaya
Name (Japanese)
アンナ・ポリトコフスカヤ
Reading
あんな・ぽりとこふすかや
Born
August 30, 1958 – October 7, 2006
Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
Virgo / Dog
Origin
New York City, New York, United States
Occupation
journalist / human rights defender / writer / peace activist / poet

2. Background

Awards & achievements

  • 2007 Geschwister-Scholl-Preis
  • 2003 Hermann Kesten Prize
  • 2004 Olof Palme Prize
  • 2005 Civil Courage Prize
  • 2000 Golden Pen of Russia
  • 2002 Andrei Sakharov Prize "For Journalism as a Deed"
  • 2006 International Press Institute World Press Freedom Heroes
  • 2004 Manuel Vázquez Montalbán Awards

3. Works & records

CategoryTitleRoleYear
Notable workPutin's Russia
Notable workA Small Corner of Hell: Dispatches from Chechnya

5. About this entry

Tags

  • New York
  • journalist
  • human rights defender
  • writer
Last updated
2026-06-20

Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.

Frequently asked questions

When was Anna Politkovskaya born?

Born August 30, 1958.

When did Anna Politkovskaya die?

Died October 7, 2006, aged 48.

Where was Anna Politkovskaya from?

Anna Politkovskaya was from New York City, New York, United States.

What did Anna Politkovskaya do?

Anna Politkovskaya worked as journalist, human rights defender, writer, peace activist, poet.

What was Anna Politkovskaya known for?

Notable works include Putin's Russia, A Small Corner of Hell: Dispatches from Chechnya.

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