Who Is Anna Politkovskaya? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on August 30, 1958, Anna Politkovskaya was a prominent Russian journalist who made significant contributions to investigative reporting. Renowned for her critical coverage of the Second Chechen War and abuses faced by civilians, Politkovskaya's fearless journalism placed her at the forefront of press freedom movements. Despite her tragic assassination on October 7, 2006, her legacy continues to inspire journalists and activists worldwide. In 2025, she would have been 67 years old, symbolizing an enduring influence in the realm of human rights journalism.
| Occupation | Human Rights Activists |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 30, 1958 |
| Age | 48 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | Russia |
| Date of death | 7 October, 2006 |
| Died Place | Moscow, Russia |
Popularity
Anna Politkovskaya's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While exact measurements of Politkovskaya are not widely documented, she was known for her petite stature, standing approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall (160 cm). Her weight fluctuated during her career, largely due to the stress and challenges of her work, which also reflected her commitment to a cause that required immense courage and tenacity.
Politkovskaya was found dead in the lift, in her block of apartments in central Moscow on 7 October 2006, Putin's birthday. She had been shot twice in the chest, once in the shoulder, and once in the head at close range. There was widespread international reaction to the assassination.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Anna Politkovskaya was married to Alexander Politkovsky, and they had two children together. Despite her busy career, she valued her family life and often spoke about the struggles of balancing work with motherhood. Throughout her life, she maintained private relationships away from the public eye, focusing primarily on her investigative work and the dangers it posed.
Her father was ethnically Ukrainian and had attended a Ukrainian-language school in Chernihiv before the 1941 Nazi invasion of the USSR. He met her mother at a Russian-language night school in Kerch after the war while serving in the fleet. By 1952, her father was admitted to study at an institute in Moscow, and her parents married there.
Her father was appointed to the Ukrainian delegation at the United Nations during the Khrushchev era. He became a founding member of the Special Committee against Apartheid in 1962, and served as its secretary as late as 1974.
Net Worth and Salary
During her lifetime, Anna Politkovskaya earned a modest salary as a journalist, with reports estimating her net worth at the time of her death to be around $1 million. However, her impact far surpassed financial measures, as she became an icon for press freedom. Today, her work continues to serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in pursuing the truth.
Politkovskaya herself did not deny being afraid, but felt responsible and concerned for her informants. While attending a December 2005 conference on the freedom of the press in Vienna organized by Reporters Without Borders, she said "People sometimes pay with their lives for saying aloud what they think.
In fact, one can even get killed for giving me information. I am not the only one in danger. I have examples that prove it." She often received death threats as a result of her work, including being threatened with rape and experiencing a mock execution after being arrested by the military in Chechnya.
Career, Business and Investments
Politkovskaya began her career in journalism in the 1990s, working primarily for the newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Known for her bold reporting on the Chechen conflict, she published several acclaimed books detailing human rights violations and the effects of war on civilians. Her tireless commitment to uncovering the truth caught the attention of both supporters and adversaries, leading to her untimely death. Politkovskaya's legacy continues through awards and foundations established in her honor, promoting investigative journalism and human rights.
"She was brave, she was bold, and she was beautiful. In her fearless quest to uncover the wrongdoings of the Russian State, Anna Politkovskaya inspired awe in some and fear in countless others. An investigative journalist for Moscow's liberal Novaya Gazeta, she was the only spokesperson for victims of Putin's government.
Hers was a lonely voice, yet loud enough for the entire country to hear. It was too loud. At age 48 she was assassinated for simply doing her job. A documentary about the bravery of the human spirit.
As the director says, it 'is especially important now, when the world is so full of cynicism and corruption, when we so desperately need more people with Anna's level of courage and integrity and commitment'."
Social Network
In her day, Anna Politkovskaya utilized various media platforms to engage with the public, though social media as we know it today was not prevalent during her time. Her work continued to circulate posthumously on platforms dedicated to press freedom, where followers and supporters share her articles and honor her memory. Today, social networks like Twitter and Facebook serve as powerful tools for advocating for press freedom, allowing her legacy to reach newer generations.
Her post-1999 articles about conditions in Chechnya were turned into books several times; Russian readers' main access to her investigations and publications was through Novaya Gazeta, a Russian newspaper that featured critical investigative coverage of Russian political and social affairs.
From 2000 onwards, she received numerous international awards for her work. In 2004, she published Putin's Russia, a personal account of Russia for a Western readership.
Education
Anna Politkovskaya graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in journalism, a foundation that equipped her with essential skills for her courageous reporting. Her education played a critical role in shaping her perspective and approach to journalism, as she sought to highlight the stories of those affected by war and oppression.
It was her reporting from Chechnya that made her national and international reputation. For seven years, she refused to give up reporting on the war despite numerous acts of intimidation and violence. Politkovskaya was arrested by Russian military forces in Chechnya and subjected to a mock execution.
She was poisoned while flying from Moscow via Rostov-on-Don to help resolve the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis, and had to turn back, requiring careful medical treatment in Moscow to restore her health.
