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not available at home, in Russia, because my family do not know English very well. When I heard the news, many of my foreign friends tried to console me by saying that she had taken the blow on herself, that by her death she would force world public opinion to to take action, that now all the newspapers would bring pressure to bear on Russia, but how can I explain to people who have not lived there that our country does not care about world opinion? I sincerely hope that my friends are right. How can I express the pain and fear, and how are we to live without such journalists as Anna Stepanovna now? May you rest in peace.

A Priest of the Russian Church

It is a great pity that there is so little room in present-day Russia for an honest person. I did not take much interest in politics, thinking it was not my business, but now I understand that Anna did everything in her power to avert the triumph of evil in our country. I thank her for opening my eyes to many things, and pray for the repose of her soul.

Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation

[Dresden, October 10, 2006, at a joint press conference with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel]

Right, if you will permit me, I will also say a couple of words on this topic. First of all I would like to note that no matter who committed this crime and no matter what motives these people had, we must confirm that this is a crime of vile brutality. And of course it should not be … should not remain unpunished. The motives may be highly diverse. Yes indeed, this journalist was a harsh critic of the present authorities in Russia, but I think that journalists should know this, at least experts are well aware of this, the extent of her influence on political life in the country, in Russia, was extremely insignificant. She was known in journalistic circles, in human rights circles, in the West. I repeat, her influence on political life in Russia was minimal. And the murder of such a person, the cruel murder of a woman, a mother, it was directed of itself also against our country, against Russia, against the current government authorities in Russia. And this murder of itself inflicts on Russia much, and on the current government authorities both in Russia and in the Chechen Republic, where she was active professionally recently, inflicts on the current government authorities a far greater loss and damage than her publications. This is an absolutely obvious fact for everybody in Russia. But I repeat, no matter who this was and no matter what motives these people were guided by, they are criminals. They must be found, unmasked and punished. We will do all that is required for this.

The United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is Interviewed by Novaya gazeta

Condoleezza Rice: Thank you very much. First let me say that I am very much saddened, as was the entire world, by the brutal murder of Anna Politkovskaya. She was a heroine to many people.

She stood for what is best in independent journalism, a willingness to try to get to the truth at whatever cost. And if I may just say to you, Ilya, that while I know the world has lost someone who was a symbol, you have lost your mother and we are very saddened by that. But her work goes on, and Novaya gazeta is a fine publication that I think represents a very good independent voice here in Russia.

The role of the independent press is extremely important in society, particularly for democratic development. And it’s important not just because it is an important value to have an independent press, although it is one of the most important values of democracy. But it also is important to the proper functioning of government in democracy.

People need information in order to hold their government accountable. And only through an independent press can that information be developed and communicated. And whether it is in fighting corruption or questioning government policies or communicating to the Government the concerns of people, an independent press plays an extremely important role.

I want to encourage you to keep working.