22:42, 9 December 2006

Politkovskaya posthumously awarded an ombudsman's medal

Vladimir Lukin, human rights commissioner (ombudsman) in the Russian Federation, has held today, on the eve of the International Day for Human Rights Defence, a decoration ceremony with his medal "Hurry Up to Make Good," the Newsru.com informs.

Anna Politkovskaya, observer of the "Novaya Gazeta," shot dead in October in the doorway of her house, was among the honourees (posthumously).

On request of Politkovskaya's relatives and editorial board of the "Novaya Gazeta," her award was taken by Dmitri Muratov, editor-in-chief of the newspaper. He noted, when receiving the medal, that over 40 criminal cases had been initiated and finalized on Politkovskaya's materials.

In his turn, Mr. Lukin has noted that "more efficient measures should be taken for the journalists who disagree with the authorities' position to be able to work normally."