Lately, this blog has been addressing busily what the Homegirls perceive as transgressions against the public image of our Head Homegirl, Hillary Rodham Clinton, diplomat extraordinaire. Today, however, we take a moment to spotlight her own remarks regarding the deplorable war against free speech being waged in Russia against the press. Today marks the third anniversary of the death of Anna Politkovskaya.
Born in New York City of Soviet Ukrainian parents assigned to the U.N., she was a dual citizen of the U.S. and the Russian Federation and an indefatiguable champion of human rights. She was shot to death in the elevator of her apartment house on this day three years ago, one of, as Hillary states, 18 journalists murdered in Russia since the year 2000.
The government of Russia has been less than assiduous in tracking down the assassins in these cases much less bringing them to justice.
MURDERED
Along with our Homegirl, DeHoS calls on Russia. Bring the perps to justice! Not another journalist dead! Not another one!
Here are Hillary’s remarks on the occasion of the sad and intolerable anniversary.
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
October 7, 2009Today we mark with sadness the third anniversary of the tragic slaying of journalist Anna Politkovskaya. To date, no one has been brought to justice in this case, similar to other cases involving violent crimes against journalists in Russia, including Paul Klebnikov and more recently Natalya Estemirova. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 18 journalists have been killed in Russia since 2000 in retaliation for their work. In only one case have the killers been convicted.
While we welcome calls by Russian officials defending the necessity of a free press, the failure to bring to justice the killers of these journalists undermines efforts to strengthen the rule of law, improve government accountability, and combat corruption.
MURDERED
MURDERED
I started reading Anna Politkovskaya’s memoirs right before the primaries started in 2008 (got the book for Christmas). It was so upsetting on so many levels that I couldn’t finish it.
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Very upsetting. She is a hero.
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[…] will address, with the Russian leaders, the issue about which she released remarks yesterday (Homegirl Hillary on the Third Anniversary of Death of Anna Politkovskaya), the war against a free press in Russia, is also […]
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Recently I, in Moscow, was startled by hearing some people, whether they know anything about Anna Politkovskaya. A woman said, something was heard about her, but it was so long ago. How do you like this? And the man was even more terrible: sheer stalinist! He said, I didn’t care what by number was her death. I was truly disgasted hearing this cynic “comments”. And I thought, what a damned country is this Russia! Stalin and other scoundrels are remembered by them, I am sure, but this true hero, you see, ah….. it was too long ago and quite unimportant! Your Poet Walt Whitman once said, that let I remain alone, I would worship the one who laid his life for freedom. Thank you!
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Hi, Vladimir. Thank you for your comment. Yes, I did see something yesterday about the Communist Party celebrating the birthday of Jozef Stalin and I was amazed that anybody, in this information age, still thinks he was worthy of any kind of celebration.
We have Hillary Clinton to thank for keeping these murders in her remarks and in the consciousness of people around the world. Her speech last Monday on Human Rights once again addressed this issue. I believe she will keep pressure on the government to find and prosecute the perpetrators. She is very serious about this.
It is stunning that people in Russia are less concerned than our Secretary of State.
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