The Legacy of Anna

Time: 7 October 2011, 9:00 – 11:00

Place: Litteraturhuset, Amalie Skram hall, Oslo.

On 7 October 2006, the courageous Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot and killed at the entrance of her apartment in Moscow. Since then, neither the murderers nor any possible assassin's paymaster have been convicted. Anna Politkovskaya was not only a journalist; she fought for the victims of the conflict in North-Caucasus by making their stories known to the public. No one has been able to quite fill her place. During the seminar we will hear about the latest steps in the murder investigation and how her legacy has had an impact on how North-Caucasus is covered by the press today. Journalism in Russia and in North-Caucasus in particular, is still dangerous. Since year 2000, 18 journalists have been killed in Russia due to their professional activity. When being a journalist in Russia covering North Caucasus is so dangerous, do international media take upon themselves the responsibility to thoroughly cover events in the region?

09:00 Introduction, Bjørn Engesland, Secretary General, Norwegian Helsinki Committee

09:10 Anna Politkovskaya’s case: investigation status. What is the impact of the case on the work of Novaya Gazeta? Sergey Sokolov, Vice Chief Editor, Head of Investigation Department, Novaya Gazeta

09:40 The challenges of Russian Journalism in North Caucasus, Gregory Shvedov, Chief Editor of the web portal Caucasian Knot

10:00 Panel discussion: How do Russian and international journalism carry on the legacy of Anna?

Morten Høglund, MP, Progress Party. Member of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee

Geir Ole Bjartvik, journalist in the Norwegian paper Vårt Land

Dag Herbjørnsrud, Chief Editor of the weekly news magazine Ny Tid

Sergey Sokolov, Novaya Gazeta

Gregory Shvedov, Caucasian Knot

The seminar will be held in English, free entry.

Please sign up with nielsen@nhc.no by 6 October

Anders Nielsen

Information advisor

Norwegian Helsinki Committee

E-mail: nielsen@nhc.no

Ph: + 47 408 44 709

Twitter: nhc_no

www.nhc.no