The murder of renowned Russian investigative journalist and political commentator Anna Politkovskaya, who was found shot dead in the entryway of her apartment building on 7 October 2006, proved that journalism continues to be a dangerous profession in Russia. Government and local authorities, as well as "parallel powers", often influence the work of journalists.

Politkovskaya worked as a reporter for the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was finishing an investigative story on torture in Chechnya, which was to be published on 9 October. Novaya Gazeta published the incomplete article on 12 October.

Politkovskaya was best known for her work on the Chechen Republic and Northern Caucasus. Her last publication "Karatelnyj Sgovor" (Retaliatory Arrangement) focussed on Chechen groups fighting on the side of federal forces. She gained international recognition for her work and received several awards. Her reports drew attention to human rights abuses in the region, which were committed by both the local authorities and other groups.

According to media reports, Politkovskaya's murder bore all the hallmarks of a contract killing. A pistol and four bullets were found near her body, and police started a murder investigation. Colleagues said Politkovskaya had received numerous threats in the past. The Russian-backed Chechen leadership and some power groups viewed her critical reports negatively. Commenting on the killing, Politkovskaya's colleagues, family, politicians and other experts expressed no doubt that it came as a direct result of her work. On 8 October, shareholders of Novaya Gazeta offered 25 million roubles for information that could help resolve the murder.

Coverage of Politkovskaya's murder by Russian media, as well as the government's response, was widely criticised. President Putin's statement four days after the killing was described as late and did not focus on Politkovskaya's journalism. Some media were also criticised for not devoting their prime time to the issue.

In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on 11 October, Lev Ponomaryov, head of the activist group "For Human Rights", said that Politkovskaya had opposed the authorities and caused damage to the present authorities. However, she did not damage Russia. On 17 October, Oleg Orlov, head of the human rights group Memorial, resigned from his position as adviser to the President as a member of the Presidential Council on Promoting Civil Society and Human Rights. Orlov stated that this came in response to Putin's comments on the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, with which he disagreed.

According to media reports, on 16 October, authorities in Ingushetia forcibly broke up a rally to honour the memory of Anna Politkovskaya. Several people were arrested and charged with hooliganism. Moreover, according to Novaya Gazeta, two of its reporters received death threats on 24 November. The newspaper reported that one of them received threats after the publication of an article on the problems in Northern Caucasus, and the other for investigating the murder of Politkovskaya. One of the reporters also received a threatening text message.

Speaking about her work in an interview with RFE/RL's Russian Service on 5 October, Politkovskaya said that she was writing an article about the participation of security forces loyal to Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov in the abduction, torture, and murder of Chechen civilians. In the article that was published on 12 October, Politkovskaya cited a young Chechen, Beslan Gadayev, who described how he was extradited from Ukraine to Grozny on suspicions of "banditry" and tortured to make him confess to a murder. The paper also published a purported transcript of video footage showing Chechen security officials torturing two young men.

According to media reports, for months Politkovskaya's work had focused on Prime Minister Ramsan Kadyrov, son of previous Chechen president, Akhmad Kadyrov, who was murdered on 9 May 2004. Reportedly, during a government meeting Kadyrov said that Politkovskaya was "a condemned woman."

Two months after Politkovskaya's murder, police continue their investigations. Of the motives considered by police, one is revenge for publicising a torture case by police officers who through Politkovskaya's articles were charged with the murder of a 30-year-old Chechen. One of the officers received an 11-year prison sentence; the other two are wanted by police. According to reports, suspicion has fallen on three groups: Chechen prime minister Ramzan Kadyrov; Kadyrov's opponent, who wanted to discredit him; or someone, whose actions were exposed in Politkovskaya's work.

Anna Politkovskaya's work had brought her fame, but with it came threats by those she exposed in her articles. In October 2001, Politkovskaya fled to Vienna for several months after receiving threats that a Russian police officer she had accused of committing atrocities against civilians wanted to take revenge. In interviews, Politkovskaya said that the threats could also have been linked to her coverage of a Russian military helicopter, which had been shot down in Chechnya in September 2001.

During the Moscow theatre siege in 2002, Politkovskaya was one of several influential figures who entered the theatre in efforts to mediate with the captors. The mediators also included former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov and Ruslan Aushev, former president of Ingushetia. In 2004, Politkovskaya was forced to delay her travel to North Ossetia during the Beslan hostage crisis under suspicious circumstances. Politkovskaya became ill after drinking tea during the first part of her flight to Beslan. She was diagnosed with acute food poisoning at a clinic in Rostov and returned to Moscow for treatment.

On 7 December 2006, on the occasion of the two-month commemoration of her death, IPI honoured Anna Politkovskaya by posthumously naming her one of its World Press Freedom Heroes.

In 2000, IPI named 50 World Press Freedom Heroes from around the globe to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its founding. The 50 World Press Freedom Heroes were chosen from a long list of journalists who have made a significant contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom in their country or on a global basis over a period of time in the last 50 years, especially if this involved acts of bravery or resistance under harsh conditions.

Speaking on behalf of the World Press Freedom Heroes at the IPI World Congress in Boston, Katharine Graham, former publisher of the Washington Post, said,"The Heroes of the IPI demonstrate that in spite of every obstacle and every constraint the truth ultimately prevails and is made known. The spread of democracy is relentless. And that freedom is an eternal goal for men and women everywhere. The editors and publishers … have played an essential and inspiring role in helping the people of their countries and the world achieve that freedom."

"Anna Politkovskaya's nomination as our 51st World Press Freedom Hero is a tribute to her bravery, but also an acknowledgement of the struggles of the many courageous journalists working in Russia," said IPI Director Johann Fritz. "Over 20 journalists have been killed in Russia since 2000 and most were killed with impunity."