Russian journalist murdered
2006-10-07 17:03
Moscow - A Russian investigative journalist known for her criticism of the government's actions in war-torn Chechnya, Anna Politkovskaya, was found murdered in Moscow on Saturday, Russian news agencies said.
A neighbour found Politkovskaya shot dead in the hallway of the building where she lived in the centre of the Russian capital, a police official quoted by the agencies said.
Dmitry Muratov, the editor in chief of the opposition newspaper for which she worked, the Novaya Gazeta, confirmed her death.
The prosecutors' office announced it had opened an investigation into "premeditated murder."
Politkovskaya was the recipient of numerous journalism awards, in particular for her coverage of Chechnya, and had written several books.
In articles for the bi-weekly Novaya Gazeta, she denounced the explosive situation in the Caucasus republic despite assurances by President Vladimir Putin that it was returning to normal.
- AFP