How the name of Anna Politkovskaya was immortalized in Europe and the Russian Federation | Europe and Europeans: News and Analytics | DW

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Journalist Anna Politkovskaya became famous in Russia and abroad primarily due to her coverage of the second Chechen war, as well as thanks to her public and human rights activities. On October 7, 2006, Politkovskaya was shot dead in the elevator of her house on Lesnaya Street in Moscow. In memory of the journalist in Europe, streets, squares, gardens and a press conference hall were named after her.

Hall named after Politkovskaya for press conferences in the European Parliament

In 2004, 10 new member states were admitted to the European Union at once, mainly from Central and Eastern Europe. Because of this, the European Parliament in Brussels had to be expanded. In January 2008, it was decided what to name the new buildings and premises. In particular, the main hall for press conferences in the European Parliament in Brussels was named after Anna Politkovskaya.

The hall for press conferences in the European Parliament is named after Anna Politkovskaya

“Anna Politkovskaya was a brave woman who fought for freedom of the press and freedom of speech in her country. She is a symbol of these values, and we honor the fact that she stood up for them under very difficult conditions. We want to honor her memory. Her commitment to the ideals of freedom is not must be forgotten, “European Parliament Speaker Hans-Gert Pöttering explained in January 2008 why the press conference room in Brussels was named after Politkovskaya.

Hall named after Anna Politkovskaya in the European Parliament in Brussels

Hall named after Anna Politkovskaya in the European Parliament in Brussels

Squares and streets of Politkovskaya in Italy and France

The leaders in the number of places named after Anna Politkovskaya are Italy and France.

In 2007, in Rome, in the Villa Doria Pamphilj park, a small square was named after a Russian journalist. “When a journalist is killed, they do it only so that the journalist would be silent. But we must not be silent when a journalist is killed. Therefore, we will do everything so that the name of Anna Politkovskaya is inextricably linked with our city, we will talk about Anna and remember her.” – quoted by “Novaya Gazeta” then mayor of the capital of Italy Walter Veltroni.

In addition, in Milan, near the Porta Garibaldi station, there is a park – Giardino Anna Stepanovna Politkovskaja. And in the city of Ferrara there is Via Anna Politkovskaja.

Near the capital of France, there is also Politkovskaya Square – Place Anna Politkovskaïa – located in the Paris suburb of Montreuil. “We are not happy to open the Anna Politkovskaya Square today. We would prefer that today Anna was next to those whom she loved. This ceremony is not a joy for us, it is our duty,” the words were published by “Novaya Gazeta”. And in Toulouse you can find Rue Anna Politkovskaia street.

Since 2009, there is also Politkovskaya Street in Tbilisi.

Alley Politkovskaya and Nemtsov Square in Prague

Prague was the last to join the list of cities honoring the name of Politkovskaya. On February 27, 2020, on the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Boris Nemtsov, a square was named after the Russian politician in the capital of the Czech Republic, and an alley in a nearby park was named after Anna Politkovskaya: Promenáda Anny Politkovské. “Both of these individuals defended democracy, and for this they were shamefully killed. They deserve to be remembered,” said Prague Mayor Zdenek Grzyb.

Boris Nemtsov Square in Prague

Boris Nemtsov Square in Prague

Memorial plaques and Anin’s garden in Moscow

In Moscow, where Anna Politkovskaya lived and worked, two memorial plaques have been erected.

One of them is on the house at 8 Lesnaya Street, where Politkovskaya lived. “Anna Politkovskaya lived and was murdered in this house on October 7, 2006,” the blackboard says.

Memorial plaque on the house where Anna Politkovskaya lived

Memorial plaque on the house where Anna Politkovskaya lived

The second memorial plaque was erected on the seventh anniversary of Politkovskaya’s murder, in October 2013, on the building of Novaya Gazeta, where the journalist worked from 1999 to 2006. It was for this publication that Politkovskaya covered the second Chechen war.

Memorial plaque on the building of Novaya Gazeta, where Anna Politkovskaya worked

Memorial plaque on the building of “Novaya Gazeta”, where Anna Politkovskaya worked

And in 2018, under the windows of the Novaya Gazeta editorial office in Potapovsky Lane, the Anin Sad flower bed appeared. She was dropped by journalists, foreign diplomats, oppositionists, activists and Politkovskaya’s relatives – mother Raisa Mazepa and children Ilya and Vera. Thus, they decided to rectify the situation when in many European cities there are streets, gardens and squares named after the journalist, but not in Moscow. Special attention was paid to the fact that among the flowers planted in “Anya’s Garden” were pansies.

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