London MEP honours murdered Russian journalist and press freedom

3.01.14pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 12th Oct 2006

Sarah with Vanessa Redgrave at the memorial for Anna Politkovskaya

London MEP and Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman Baroness Sarah Ludford will speak tomorrow at 'A Tribute to Anna Politkovskaya', an event organised by Lord Rea and Vanessa Redgrave to honour the courageous Russian journalist recently murdered.

Baroness Ludford said:

"Anna Politkovskaya was internationally renowned for her courage as a journalist and human rights defender. Her work played a particularly important role highlighting the continued and grave abuses of human rights in Chechnya."

"Since 2000, 15 journalists have been murdered in Russia, yet the government has so far failed to catch their killers. This selective application of the rule of law is unacceptable in a country with which the EU is in the process of building a 'strategic partnership'."

"The Putin government must now demonstrate its commitment to freedom of speech, an independent media and the rule of law, by leaving no stone unturned in the hunt for Anna Politkovskaya's killers. But the EU must also be more principled in raising human rights issues with Russia."

Note:

'A Tribute to Anna Politkovskaya' will be held at the House of Lords at 2.30pm on 13th October 2006. Prior to the tribute, there will be a laying of flowers at the Innocent Victims Memorial Door of Westminster Abbey led by Canon Jane Hedges and Vanessa Redgrave.

Enquiries: Victoria Sabin/Heidi Mallace, Project Associates on 020 7432 3216 or by email victoria@projectassociatesltd.com or heidi@projectassociatesltd.com