|
||||||||||
DemocracyAlertsFrom time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical. To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html. (October 5, 2007) Alert: One Year Anniversary of the Murder of Anna Politovskaya Sunday, October 7, marks the one year anniversary of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, the respected Russian journalist and human rights activist known for her work on the Chechen conflict and opposition to President Putin. Anna was shot dead in the elevator of her apartment building in 2006. Many have accused the Kremlin of orchestrating her assassination. This weekend, events around the world are being held to commemorate and memorialize Anna’s work and her contribution to exposing human rights violations throughout Russia. In Russia, the Nizhny Novgorod Foundation to Promote Tolerance (the Foundation) is organizing a two-day conference on October 5-6, 2007. The conference will be attended by more than 150 activists and cultural figures from throughout Russia, and will focus on developing positive proposals for the future consolidation of democracy. The conference will feature a film festival on democracy; musical and other performances; and a series of roundtables. The conference will close with a commemorative event in honor of Anna Politkovskaya. Also in Russia, a vigil, memorial service, and photo exhibition on Chechnya, Beslan and the work of Anna Politkovskaya will be held in Moscow. The memorial photo exhibition will be open in Moscow's Bolotnaya Square from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. The one-day exhibition will feature works by prominent masters of photo reporting about Chechnya and the Beslan tragedy - two themes on which the late journalist had been working extensively during the months and weeks leading up to her assassination. Additionally, Anna’s mobile phone number, which was cut at 16:01 on 7 October 2006, has been reconnected and will be working on October 7 until 18:00 Moscow time for anyone to call and share their memories of Anna. The messages will be retrieved by Novaya Gazeta and posted on their Web site. In London, on the evening of October 5, a new international human rights group supporting women human rights defenders and female victims of war and conflict – Reach All Women in WAR (RAW in WAR) – will mark its founding by honoring Anna. Anna was very supportive of RAW's work and had just agreed to join the group's advisory board a few days before she was killed. To honor her, RAW established a RAW in WAR annual international award in her name to a woman human rights defender from a conflict zone, who stands up for the victims of conflict. The award will be presented on October 7 every year. This year, the award will go to Natalya Estemirova, a woman activist who works on Chechen war issues. In the US, there will be events held for Anna in New York and Washington, DC. In New York City, on Oct 6-7, a requiem is being held at the James Chapel, Union Theological Seminary at 7 pm. Also, on October 7, at 5pm, “The Life of Anna Politkovskaya: A Panel Discussion” will be held at the Refectory, Union Theological Seminary. Tickets are still available; please call the Box Office at 212-854-5638 if interested. On October 10, a conference entitled “Russia one year after Politkovskaya's murder” is being held by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus at 2200 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, from9:30 am to 12:30 pm. For further information about calling Anna’s phone, go to: http://en.novayagazeta.ru/data/2007/75/06.html For information about Reach All Women in WAR event, go to: For more information please about events in New York City and Washington, DC, go to: www.peaceinthecaucasus.org For a previous World Movement alert, go to: www.wmd.org/democracynews/nov06.html#1 |
||||||||||
|
|| || Site map || |
||||||||||
