Anna Politkovskaya

Born 1958 · Age 67

Russian investigative journalist (1958–2006) known for reporting on the Second Chechen War, human rights abuses and criticism of Vladimir Putin; columnist for Novaya Gazeta; murdered in Moscow in 2006.

Total Events

Career Span

67 years

Peak Net Worth

$53,000

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Life & Career Timeline

1958Age 0

Born in New York City

Anna Stepanovna Mazepa (later Politkovskaya) born in New York City to Ukrainian Soviet diplomats.

8/30/1958Source

Confidence

99%

1962Age 4

Family bought apartment in central Moscow

Her parents bought an apartment in central Moscow; Anna mostly grew up there.

1/1/1962Source

Confidence

85%

1978Age 20

Married Alexander Politkovsky

Married fellow student Alexander Politkovsky (they later had two children).

1/1/1978Source

Confidence

95%

1980Age 22

Graduated Moscow State University (journalism)

Graduated from MSU School of Journalism with a thesis on poet Marina Tsvetaeva.

1/1/1980Net Worth: $1,000Source

Confidence

98%

1981Age 23

Parent of two children

By 1981 she and Alexander Politkovsky had two children, Ilya and Vera.

1/1/1981Net Worth: $2,000Source

Confidence

90%

1982Age 24

Joined Izvestia (intern/mailroom)

Initial employment with Izvestia (brief internship, reportedly mailroom), beginning her media career.

1/1/1982Net Worth: $5,000Source

Confidence

90%

1984Age 26

First travel assignment (Omsk plane crash)

Worked at Vozdushnyi transport magazine covering Aeroflot emergencies; first travel assignment covered the Omsk plane crash.

1/1/1984Net Worth: $7,000Source

Confidence

90%

1990Age 32

Columnist for Megapolis-Express

Worked as a columnist for the socio-political newspaper Megapolis-Express (founded 1990).

1/1/1990Net Worth: $12,000Source

Confidence

88%

1991Age 33

Experienced family threats and son's exile

Following dissolution of the USSR and threats, her teenage son later went into exile in London (exile in 1992 noted).

1/1/1991Net Worth: $15,000Source

Confidence

80%

1992Age 34

Involvement with Paritet and Eskart creative union

Professionally involved with the creative union Eskart and the St. Petersburg publishing house Paritet (early 1990s activity).

1/1/1992Net Worth: $16,000Source

Confidence

80%

1994Age 36

Assistant chief editor at Obshchaya Gazeta

From 1994 to 1999 served as assistant chief editor of Obshchaya Gazeta, writing on social problems and refugees.

1/1/1994Net Worth: $23,000Source

Confidence

95%

1999Age 41

Evacuated elderly from Grozny under bombardment

One notable 1999 effort: she organized safe evacuation of elderly residents from a bombarded peoples' home in Grozny.

1/1/1999Net Worth: $30,500Source

Confidence

85%

1999Age 41

Turned attention to Second Chechen War reporting

Reporting from Chechnya (1999 onward) made her nationally and internationally known for documenting abuses during the Second Chechen War.

1/1/1999Net Worth: $30,000Source

Confidence

98%

1999Age 41

Joined Novaya Gazeta (columnist)

Began writing columns for Novaya Gazeta (June 1999–2006), the paper through which most Russians read her investigations.

6/1/1999Net Worth: $28,000Source

Confidence

98%

2000Age 42

Voyage en enfer (French edition) published

Some of her Chechnya dispatches were published in French as Voyage en enfer (circa 2000).

1/1/2000Net Worth: $33,000Source

Confidence

85%

2001Age 43

Reportedly poisoned previously (cup of tea after mock execution)

After the Khattuni detention, she reported having been given a cup of tea that made her vomit (reported poisoning attempt during captivity).

1/1/2001Net Worth: $34,000Source

Confidence

90%

2001Age 43

Published A Dirty War (book)

A Dirty War: A Russian Reporter in Chechnya published (2001), based on her articles and investigations.

1/1/2001Net Worth: $35,000Source

Confidence

98%

2001Age 42

Detained and subjected to mock execution in Khattuni

Early 2001: detained by Russian military in Khattuni while investigating punitive raids; beaten, humiliated and subjected to a mock execution; tapes confiscated.

1/1/2001Net Worth: $34,000Source

Confidence

97%

2001Age 43

Fled to Vienna after death threats

Fled to Vienna in 2001 following e-mail and telephone death threats; returned to Moscow in December 2001.

1/1/2001Net Worth: $34,000Source

Confidence

95%

2001Age 43

Published investigative articles turned into books

Her extensive post-1999 articles about Chechnya were turned into several books that increased her international profile.

1/1/2001Net Worth: $36,000Source

Confidence

95%

2001Age 43

Conviction of OMON officer Sergey Lapin for torture (related to her reporting)

Sergey Lapin, an officer she had accused of atrocities, was arrested in 2002 and later convicted (Lapin's 2005 conviction referenced as linked to her exposé 'Disappearing People').

1/1/2001Net Worth: $35,000Source

Confidence

80%

2002Age 44

Multiple international awards begin (2000s)

From 2000 onward she received numerous international awards for her work; list includes Index on Censorship, Lettre Ulysses, Hermann Kesten medal, Olof Palme Prize, Civil Courage Prize and others.

1/1/2002Net Worth: $38,000Source

Confidence

95%

2002Age 44

Attempted negotiator in Dubrovka theatre siege

Closely involved in attempts to negotiate release of hostages during the Moscow theatre (Dubrovka) siege, October 2002.

10/1/2002Net Worth: $36,000Source

Confidence

95%

2002Age 44

Courage in Journalism Award (IWMF)

Awarded the International Women's Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award (she did not attend ceremony because she flew to help negotiators at a hostage crisis).

10/24/2002Net Worth: $37,000Source

Confidence

99%

2003Age 45

Published A Small Corner of Hell (Dispatches from Chechnya)

A Small Corner of Hell (English translation of Vtoraya chechenskaya) published, further documenting Chechnya abuses.

1/1/2003Net Worth: $40,000Source

Confidence

98%

2004Age 46

Published Putin's Russia

Published Putin's Russia (2004), a broader personal account and critique of Vladimir Putin's Russia and the FSB's role.

1/1/2004Net Worth: $42,000Source

Confidence

98%

2004Age 46

Threats from Chechen officials (Ramzan Kadyrov)

Public confrontations and threats from Ramzan Kadyrov and his associates; she planned an investigation into Kadyrovites' torture practices on the day she was killed.

1/1/2004Net Worth: $40,000Source

Confidence

95%

2004Age 46

Poisoned en route to Beslan (flight to Rostov-on-Don)

September 2004: fell violently ill and lost consciousness after drinking tea on an Aeroflot flight while trying to reach Beslan to mediate; believed to be poisoned and required treatment in Moscow.

9/1/2004Net Worth: $41,000Source

Confidence

98%

2005Age 47

At least 50 reporting trips to Chechnya (by 2005/2006)

By the time of her death she had made at least fifty trips to Chechnya, repeatedly documenting abuses that others avoided.

1/1/2005Net Worth: $43,000Source

Confidence

80%

2005Age 47

Intellipedia record: RFIS attacked her webmail account

Intellipedia entry (from leaked documents) records RFIS initiated an attack on her webmail account on 5 December 2005 with sophisticated malware.

12/5/2005Net Worth: $44,000Source

Confidence

75%

2006Age 48

World Press Freedom Hero (International Press Institute)

Awarded the IPI's World Press Freedom Hero in 2006 (shortly before her death).

1/1/2006Net Worth: $46,000Source

Confidence

95%

2006Age 48