Is Journalism Worth Dying For? Final Dispatches

by Anna Politkovskaya

A collection of final dispatches by the famed journalist, including the first translation of the work that may have led to her murderAnna Politkovskaya won international fame for her courageous reporting. Is Journalism Worth Dying For? is a long-awaited collection of her final writing.Beginning with a brief introduction by the author about her pariah status, the book contains essays that characterize the self-effacing Politkovskaya more fully than she allowed in her other books. From deeply personal statements about the nature of journalism, to horrendous reports from Chechnya, to sensitive pieces of memoir, to, finally, the first translation of the series of investigative reports that Politkovskaya was working on at the time of her murder—pieces many believe led to her assassination.Elsewhere, there are illuminating accounts of encounters with leaders including Lionel Jospin, Tony Blair, George W. Bush, and such exiled figures as Boris Berezovsky, Akhmed Zakaev,  Vladimir Bukovsky. Additional sections collect Politkovskaya’s non-political writing, revealing her delightful wit, deep humanity, and willingness to engage with the unfamiliar, as well as her deep regrets about the fate of Russia.

Genres: Nonfiction, Journalism, Russia, Politics, History, War, Essays

480 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Russian journalist and human rights activist well-known for her opposition to the Chechen conflict and Russian president Putin.

Politkovskaya made her name reporting from lawless Chechnya, where many journalists and humanitarian workers have been kidnapped or killed. She was arrested and subjected to mock execution by Russian military forces there, and she was poisoned on the way to Beslan, but survived and continued her reporting.

She authored several books about Chechen wars as well as Putin's Russia and received numerous prestigious international awards for her work.

She was shot dead in the elevator of her apartment building on.

Reviews

[Zachary Карабашлиев · Rating 5 out of 5]

На фона на всякакви фалшиви новини и жълто-кафява журналистика, в тази книга Политковская предлага "Нищо друго освен истината". И плаща, разбира се с живота си. Руската журналистка Анна Поликовская е убита преди 15 години в асансьора на блока й.
Дали си струва да умреш в името на истината, свободното слово и -- в крайна сметка -- справедливостта? Да продължаваш ли да се бориш със системата, когато по всичко личи, че гласът ти е като глас в пустиня? Анна Политковская е правила това до самия край. В сборника „Нищо друго освен истината“ са събрани някои от нейните най-значими и силни репортажи – свързани с войната в Чечения, с трагедиите в Беслан, с „Норд-Ост“, произвола на руските тайни служби и прокуратура, с руските олигарси и начина, по който Владимир Путин властва в на думи демократичната Руска федерация.
Книгата включва и нейните недовършени последни материали, както и мнения, спомени и статии на нейни колеги и роднини.
Анна Политковская се превърна в символ на борбата за истината не само в Русия. Нейните думи звучат по-живи от всякога, особено днес, особено тук. Препоръчвам!

[Mikey B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of news stories by the assassinated Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. It should also be emphasized that she is only one of several journalists who have been killed in Russia in recent years.

It is more than hinted at in this book that Russia, under Putin, is regressing democratically and becoming more and more totalitarian. The long and authoritarian past of Russian history is re-emerging. The war in Chechnya illustrates this well – Ms. Politkovskaya documents the continual atrocities and the lack of attempt by Russia to establish any semblance of a beneficial regime to the people of Chechnya. She reports on abductions, beatings, tortures and killings perpetrated with the full cognizance of the Russian army and it myriad secret service organizations.

The stories are by subject – so sometimes the chronology becomes confusing as you read through different chapters. Also, if one is unfamiliar with the recent history of Russian involvement in Chechnya, as I am, the glossary at the end proves useful.

Two stories in particular caught my attention: the fiasco of the Russian government to extradite Ahmed Zakayev from England and the passionate article on the Norwegian nurse who was murdered in Starye Atagi. There are many eloquent testimonials to Ms. Politkovskaya at the end; however the one of Vladimir Putin is telling indeed.

It is very sad when a fledgling democracy reverts back to the days of Stalin, Lenin and the Czars – when the printed word summons an execution.

As I read the journalism of this brave woman, I hope, that we in the West also have the fortitude to continue to expose the mismanagement of our governments; that, as Ms. Politkovskaya suggests, are we not sinking into a comfortable complacency?

[Paltia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This woman was a heroine fighting for a greater understanding of ignored or misreported events. She writes on behalf of the people of Chechnya and the Caucasus. Her murder will not silence her as her words live on. Her voice continue to come in strong. What was she guilty of? Nothing but the truth. These writings offer us sights, sounds and sensations that will likely change your worldview. She stimulates feelings and provokes reactions. She makes you wail with anguish. How can you look away from her courage, honesty and dedication? Sadly, she is gone now but she’s left behind a call for humanity to wake up. She asks that we work together for the restoration of a true peace and understanding between all people. This was the final hope that spoke to her soul. She’s left behind these words that speak directly to our hearts. There is not enough praise I can offer to this truly beautiful woman. She serves as an inspiration for us all.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Търсенето на истината се изплаща цял живот, а в случая с Политковская - е с цената на живота и.

Тя няма късмета на Фалачи да търси истината в световен мащаб, и да се връща спокойно у дома. Защото ужасите са именно в дома и. Гражданската война в Чечня, терористичните актове в Норд Ост и Беслан. Политковская явно става неудобна с надничането си зад кулисите на официалната линия, за която не съществуват военни престъпления срещу цивилно население и маневри на властта с терористичните атаки, където животът на заложниците не е приоритет. Но също и с дивашките режими на диктаторчетата в Ингушетия и Чечня, чиято неадекватност всъщност пуска червения килим за уахабизма като морален спасител.

Въпросите и се оказват смъртоносни, което явно означава, че за съжаление са били във вярната посока. Дано винаги има хора като нея, независимо от риска, иначе човечеството няма шанс.

***
Иначе статиите, несвързани с войната, ме поразочароваха. Интервюто със Саакашвили например е направо слабо и най-вече повърхностно и едностранчиво. Но предвид, че компилацията е правена от англоговорящи, е разбираемо, макар и неудачно.

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

great examples of what journalsim can be, not like it is anymore, at least in usa. politkovskaya reported most (at least towards the end of her life) about russo chechen wars and the nasty nasty things going on there both by the russian govt and the freedom fighters (fighting now for now, oh, about 800 years) .
mostly this book are translated reprints of her articles for a moscow paper. funny, fairly balanced, hard hitting news she was murdered for.

[Inga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ļoti interesanti ne tikai par kariem Čečenijā (lai gan ir nepieciešamas šādas tādas priekšzināšanas, jo raksti tapuši cilvēkiem, kuri dzīvo un lasa tieši tai brīdī, kad kari notika), bet arī par Krievijas politiku, attieksmi pret cilvēkiem, par to, cik lieli gļēvuļi un meļi ir ļaudis elites spicite, bet arī tie pārējie. Un ir bēdīgi līdz ar Annu, ka tā nav laba vieta, kur dzīvot.

[Stefani · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you weren't already aware, the former Soviet Union is corrupt. Very, very corrupt. At least that's what Politkovskaya thought and I for one am inclined to believe her. Every stereotype that defines Russian culture in my mind—the secrecy, stoic military guards wearing thick wool hats while surrounded by a thick haze of cold air and cigarette smoke, alcoholism, inept government workers and oligarchs trailed by bodyguards in armored motorcades—well, they all kind of crop up innocently in the book like a bizarre cast of characters in some satirical play on society that's meant to be humorous or critical. Although, by all accounts Anna was extremely critical, she was certainly not known for bending the truth. I'm horrified by the realities she described.

The book is a collection of articles that she wrote for the independent Russian newspaper Noveya Gazeta along with a collection of tributes from friends, family and colleauges after her murder. I would use the word "ballsy" to describe her, but somehow that seems too light hearted, like telling someone that they're ballsy for going up to a guy they're afraid to talk to or something. No, she was more like a warrior, courageous and resolute and stubborn and unwilling to be complacent to the massive fear mongering and brainwashing that the Russian government tried to pull. I don't think she wanted to die, but she knew it was a possibility.

Like many others, I find her resiliance very inspirational. I mean, here I am, sighing heavily and complaining when the line at the post office is too long or if the person in front of me on the highway doesn't go when the light turns green, but shit, this woman was dodging bullets and shifty border guards to write stories that people wanted to murder her for. Puts things in perspective.

[ōkami · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Un ultimo appunto. Sull'amore. Nel ventunesimo secolo le persone intelligenti non costringono i propri concittadini a un bagno di sangue. È quando non si vuole bene alla propria gente che cominciano le disgrazie. Peccato che, come sempre, il potere sia in mano ai mediocri, mediocri cronici."

Questa raccolta di articoli, scritti da Anna Politkovskaja e pubblicati sulla Novaja Gazeta tra il 1999 e il 2006, sono un viaggio commovente, profondamente umano ma del tutto vero. Tra regimi dittatoriali, imposizioni militari e l'orrore freddo e cieco della guerra che non risparmia nessuno, a pagare sono tutti - dai bambini ai militari, dalle donne alle comunità, dalle generazioni presenti a quelle future, da uno schieramento all'altro. Anna Politkovskaja è morta il 7 ottobre 2006, assassinata nell'androne di casa, dopo aver raccontato per anni la pura e semplice verità (scomoda, per qualcuno) sulla Russia e la Cecenia. Nel 2022, però, la sua voce ci parla ancora forte e chiara.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

American news sucks! It does. It really does. It use to be okay if you had cable. Then Al Gore brought the International News Network and turned it into Current (which is a waste of space), then the BBC American Newscast on BBC America went on PBS. Lying people, it is not the small newscast. It is only carried by one local PBS network where I live (on my cable I have access to three, not counting secondary channels), and on PBS it is only half an hour, not the HOUR it was on BBC America. It's not quite as bad in Philly for we get MIND networks, one of which reboardcasts international news programs, but lately, and understandably so, it has been NHK network.

This is a shame because I only really heard about Anna Politkovskaya when she died.

Just go read this book for (a) large international prespective about Russia and (b) to understand a war that does make the news.

More Americans should report like she did - on International News Stories. Honestly, it's sad when the wedding of William and Kate gets more coverage then Iraq, Libiya, or Nigeria. Didn't we kick the Brits out?


This book reminds of us of what is important.

And she loved dogs!

[Beorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intense read that is all at once evocative, incisive, insightful and shines a light through the carefully crafted state lies & propaganda used by the Russian authorities to cover up terrible atrocities, warmongering and crimes that were they to occur in any other country would lead to mass protests, international claims of war crimes and revolution.

One omnipresent factor casting a shadow over your admiration for Politkovskaya's incendiary journalism is the fact you, or at least most readers will, know that she was to ultimately pay for such truth telling with her own life.

Stunning, captivating and absolutely essential for anyone with any kind of interest in journalism, politics, propaganda or modern day Russia.

It feels a little harsh giving this less than a full 5/5 but I can't with all confidence say I wouldn't be giving it so high a mark out of commemoration of the author herself rather than the amazing work she did, so for the time being I'm keeping it at 4/5 - a 'I really liked it' mark.

[Gabija · Rating 4 out of 5]

,,Kaip pasižiūrėsi į vieno mažo žmogaus tragediją - taip reaguosi ir į visos tautos likimą."

[Sergio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Con una scrittura chiara e un tono fortemente ironico, nei suoi articoli giornalistici sulla Novaja Gazeta, Anna Politkovskaja racconta e cerca di spiegare i fatti e la politica russa, gli orrori delle guerre intestine in seno alle repubbliche sovietiche e gli attentati agli inermi, l'incapacità della politica di difendere i propri cittadini, argomenti né facili né comodi, considerando il modo di agire degli interlocutori, ambiguo e contraddittorio: un fatica di Sisifo la sua eppure la affronta con coraggio e abnegazione, qualità che invece di premiarla la condurranno ad una prematura morte violenta. Un libro che tutti dovremmo leggere.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read Anna Politkovskaya’s work the more I realize what an immense loss her death was ... especially to a world grappling with terrorism. It's hard for me to think of someone I admire more.

She represented the honor and conscience of Russia, and probably no one will ever know the source of her fanatical courage and love of the work she was doing. ~ Liza Umarova, Chechen singer

She's the journalist who returned time and time again to Chechnya, reporting on the atrocities occurring there under the auspices of the Kremlin. (Much of what is happening now in the Ukraine seems like a second chapter of the same brutality.)

She came to see Chechnya as a metaphor. “This vicious cycle of widespread lies has been maintained by people who call themselves officers,’’ she wrote. “After this lawlessness, they leave for their homes, all over the country. Chechnya as a mode of thinking, feeling, and acting spreads everywhere like gangrenous cells and turns into a nationwide tragedy, infecting all strata of society."

She comes across as being incapable of turning a blind eye to the suffering of others. Of being incapable of NOT listening to the stories of people ignored by the vast majority of the rest of the world. (Who knows where Chechnya is, much less cares about the fate of the people living there?) I think one of the pieces at the back, one not from Chechnya, titled “A Sick Dog in the Big City” is very revealing of her heart.

One other piece especially resonated with me: "Who in Europe Will Take Responsibility for a War in Europe?" In it she interviews Sigrid Foss, the 82-year old mother of a Norwegian nurse killed in the Chechen village of Starya Atagi on Dec. 17, 1996. This is the quote that struck me:

“Do you still think the world is vast? That if there is a conflagration in one place it does not have a bearing on another, and that you can sit it out in peace on your veranda admiring your absurd petunias?”

[Laura Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have no interest in the Chechen Wars, this book may not be for you. It is timely once again, however, as it offers a bird's eye view of a totalitarian state and the man Putin (a thug and criminal) whom the current President sitting in our White House admires so much.

I think the reader would have been better served if the dispatches were arranged chronologically. Events Anna Politkovskaya was reporting on in Chechnya were hard to follow as is in this book. "A Russian Diary" by Ms. Politkovskaya covers most of the same topics, but offers more clarity.

My favorite part of this book was the section "The Other Anna" which offers the reader another facet of Anna's character. These pieces were real gems. I only wish there were more included. I also appreciated the numerous reactions to her life and death recorded at the end of the book. She was truly a gifted and brave humanitarian and journalist. And I couldn't help on the day our own President banned certain news agencies from his press conference, but be more than a little concerned for our own future. Trust me, we do not want to go down the same road as Russia. Freedom of the press is a fundamental part of our democracy. I'll end with a quote from Condoleeza Rice, the Republican Secretary of State at the time of Anna Politkovskaya's death, concerning the importance of freedom of the press and found on page 406 of "Nothing But the Truth". "People need information in order to hold their government accountable. And only through an independent press can that information be developed and communicated. And whether it is in fighting corruption or questioning government policies or communicating to the Government the concerns of the people, an independent press plays an extremely important role." Anna Politkovskaya was murdered because she dared to speak the truth. No one should have a target on their back for such an honorable reason.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of Anna Politkovskaya's columns is a must read for anyone interested in the second Chechen war, life in Russia under Putin, and especially those who believe in journalism. Honest, accurate, and never self-censored, this is phenomenal book.

[Keen Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Kheyedi, Larisa and Nura were promptly arrested, blindfolded and bundled into the vehicle. A little later they were set down and ordered to walk forwards, holding hands. Then they were ordered to remove the blindfolds and found themselves against the wall of a ruined house. They knew immediately what was going to happen. First the federals shot Larisa. She pleaded for mercy, shouting, ‘I am Russian, I was born in Moscow Province! We saw nothing! We won’t say anything!’ She was 47 and died instantly, without suffering. Next they shot Nura. She too pleaded, ‘Lads, I’m only 43! I have three sons like you!’ ‘I was third,’ Kheyedi concludes her story. ‘They pointed a rifle at me and everything stopped. I came to when I felt a sharp pain, and only later realised what had happened. They had shot but failed to kill me. I’d been unconscious and the soldiers must not have checked if I was still alive. They dragged our bodies together, threw a nearby mattress over us and set it on fire.”

If you have never read Politkovskaya before then I would suggest that you don’t start with this. Instead I would recommend “Putin’s Russia” which is an ideal introduction and shows more of her depth, variety and strengths. Like much of her other work this is based on the dangerous and intense work she did at Moscow’s “Novaya Gazeta”. It is worth noting that since the turn of the century, at least six journalists working for the paper have been murdered, including Politkovskaya.

There is a huge emphasis on the Chechan Wars in here, the vast majority of the 450 main pages are taken up with grim stories of kidnapping, gangsters, execution squads, warring tribes, forced confessions, international trials, all muddied by shifting power struggles, political and religious agendas all fuelled by fear, insecurity and egomania.

“They are not human beings, they are little furry animals. Don’t worry, they’ll soon give birth to plenty more new little furry animals.” Was one Russian soldier’s thoughts on the state of an innocent Chechen civilian caught up in the Russian invasion rendered disabled by Russian shelling.

We then go onto the now infamous Nord-Ost siege, where Politkovskaya played a vital part in. Apparently the hostage takers asked specifically for her by name to negotiate terms with, which tells you much about the respect she was held in by those she tried to champion. Unfortunately her presence there wasn’t quite enough to prevent the carnage that followed. She also made her way to Beslan, but after various attempts were made to hinder and block her journey, those persistent in doing so, eventually succeeded when they poisoned her drink and she had to get rushed to hospital, where they managed to get her back into recovery.

During the chapter “Planet Earth: The World Beyond Russia”, she gets the opportunity to spread her journalistic wings and the book is all the better for it. We see her having dinner with Tony Blair at Claridges and she asks him the nature of his affection for Putin, and he tells her, “It’s my job as Prime Minister to like Mr Putin.” She also gets to interview Prime Minister Lionel Jospin during his re-election campaign in France, with some bizarre results. She also finds herself in Scandinavia where she visits a suspiciously tolerant and accommodating version of prison. On a darker note she travels to Norway speaking to the elderly mother of a Norwegian nurse who was killed in Chechnya.

Elsewhere she even gets to tackle some more light-hearted topics, from wandering the streets of Paris, where she also attended her book launch, to adopting a pet dog, a trip to Sydney, Australia and not forgetting, being part of an audience with George W Bush. At the end we get some of her unfinished work and then there is a section dedicated to the media reaction from around the globe in the aftermath of her execution. These tributes run well into twenty-odd pages, which I think that most people will agree is maybe a bit much, but they then lead on to more intimate and personal tributes from some of the people who were closest too her, including her husband.

So this is a compelling yet grim collection of some Politkovskaya’s work, and although most if it is taken up with the various Chechen Wars, we still get the opportunity to see her in some lighter and more optimistic areas, that show her range and ability. Some of the accounts do occasionally get bogged down in political minutiae and can be a bit hard going, but there is more than enough here to illustrate what an incredibly brave, forthright and talented woman she was, and how much she contributed to raising awareness and trying to help those who could not help themselves.

[William Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful and eternal vicious reprimand against Yeltsin and Putin's destruction of Chechens, Georgians, innocent Russia's and, ultimately, Politkovskaya herself. Politkovskaya's collection of articles illuminates better than any Wiki article or history book the festering rot of the modern Russian oligarchic bureaucracy, the rank lawlessness of their operations, and the banal cruelty of their actions across Russia. Most striking in interviews from Russian deserters and commentary on court cases against Chechnya war criminals, the fragility and almost darkly laughable laudability of the modern Russian system's corruption is laid bare. The near non-existent concern about the second Chechnya war by Europe, particularly Blair and the non-committal Jacques Chirac, shines a damming light on European compliance with Russian brutality, even in the face of the modern context, making me lay significantly blame at our door for Russia's unbridled production of misery in the 1990s and early 2000s. A side-show towards the end reveals a curious ‘outward’ Chinese policy involving the state-sanctioned and state-financed expatriation of poor Chinese migrants to Siberia in a supposed attempt to gain a political and economic foothold in Siberia – an interesting example of Chinese geopolitical influence in the early 2000s. Much about these works are interesting but leave little room for hope now that such a literary warrior, like many like her, are no longer here to continue to struggle.

[Cundurs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protams, ka šo ir jālasa!
Bet, ja vien ir iespēja un prasmes, iesaku lasīt šo angliski, jo tulkojums ir vienkārši drausmīgs, brīžiem šķiet, ka to ir veicis Google translate nevis Gundega Blumberga (No lsm.lv -> Gundega Blumberga ir literārā redaktore, kura ir rediģējusi ap 150 grāmatām.) Zinot Ilzi Jansoni, kas ir šīs grāmatas korektore, ļoti pārsteidz valodas kvalitāte.
Te ielieku vienu no traģiskākajiem teikumiem, kuru nesapratu ne es, ne citiem, kuriem devu to izlasīt, lai mani apgaismo tā nozīmē: "Atvieglotie politiķi ar neapgrūtinošu Eiropas politiku vispārējai, nevis īpašai lietošanai." Tas atrodams 311. lapaspuses pirmajā rindkopā. Tajā pat lapā bija spārnotā frāze:"Delano klāja mīksti.....", ko sapratu no konteksta. Šī lapaspuse ļoti izcēlās, bet viscaur grāmatā bija daudz kļūdu. :( Ļoti apbēdināja, ka tāds "gods" ir ticis parādīts Annai Poļitkovskai, kura ir pelnījusi vislielāko rūpību un cieņu.

[Francisco Barros · Rating 5 out of 5]

La verdadera cara de la política rusa.

[E.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

While any Politkovskaya book is an emotionally intense experience, this one is particularly wrenching: it begins with articles she wrote during the final years of her life, including the articles that may have led to her murder, and ends with tributes--some heartfelt, some grudging--paid to her after her death by her friends, admirers, and enemies (Ramzan Kadyrov and Vladimir Putin's official statements are both included). The final impression is one of a person of superhuman forthrightness and integrity, who had the courage of her convictions and paid the ultimate price for them.

Politkovskaya's writing is, as always, distinctive. She was not a flowery writer, although she was not afraid to use strong phrases when the occasion called for them, nor did she turn out carefully polished pieces of prose. Instead, her writing style is workmanlike and journalistic, aimed at drawing attention to the story she was covering, not her own artistic flourishes. It is vigorous and straightforward while also infused with an emotional sensitivity that can only be categorized as feminine. While, as I have discussed elsewhere, Politkovskaya was more sui generis, or in some cases an upholder of overt gender stereotypes, than a representative of the current American conception of feminism, she insists, loudly and repeatedly, that her, female, voice, and the voices of the women she interviews, are all important and must be heard. In fact, in a delightfully unexpected section of this book, she muses on the delights of the tango and how Russian women should demand more romance and passion in their lives.

But this is just a sweet side note to the main business of the book, which of course is the war in Chechnya. More than half the book, and the bulk of her actual writing, is devoted to a series of blistering accounts of corruption and atrocities in Chechnya, including several articles about Russian officers, and one officer in particular, accused of the abduction, torture, and murder of Chechen civilians. These articles caused the officer in question to send death threats to Novaya gazeta, Politkovskaya's newspaper; instead of retracting her article and ending her investigation, the paper printed the threats and carried on covering the matter until the officer chiefly responsible was arrested and, in an unusual turn of events, convicted, it is assumed in part because of Novaya gazeta's coverage. Although Politkovskaya said herself in a questionnaire that is included at the beginning of this book that her professional credo was "What matters is the information, not what you think about it," she and her editors were crusaders who had no hesitation about jumping in the ring, instead of sitting on the sidelines.

Western readers may find Politkovskaya's approach unusual, even at times off-putting--in fact, lots of Russian readers found her aggressive stance and unyielding commitment to the truth off-putting too--but I would say it is impossible to understand what is going on right now in Russia without reading a little Politkovskaya. It is fashionable these days to lament the decline of Russian literature and the hack-work of many contemporary Russian writers: a profession that was once the conscience of the nation and source for world-famous works of art has become just another cheap, low-brow commodity in the new, "freer" market-based economy. However, the real deal is that good writers are rare and those who are willing and able to swim against the current and insist on timeless truths rather than cheap, sweet-tasting lies are rarer still. Russia isn't any poorer in serious writers than it has ever been; it's just that these days, a lot of them are writing non-fiction. After all, when the truth is this urgent and this surreal, why would you need to make up stories? "Is Journalism Worth Dying For?" is not, as can be guessed from the title, a light read, but it is the account, often in her own words, of a real-life, modern-day hero.

[Ilona * ksiazka_w_kwiatach * · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna Politkowska — rosyjska dziennikarka niezależna ukraińskiego pochodzenia, która zawsze stawała po stronie krzywdzonego człowieka, nigdy nie bała się otwarcie mówić o zbrodniach. Była bezkompromisowa, zawzięta i zdeterminowana w dążeniu do obranych sobie celów. Swoją pracę traktowała jako misję, często realizując swoje zamiary z narażeniem życia. Życia, które ostatecznie utraciła w dniu 7 października 2006 roku — została zastrzelona w windzie bloku, w którym mieszkała.

„Tylko prawda” to przerażający i głęboko poruszający zbiór reportaży, depeszy i felietonów, który w jednej chwili szokuje, by za chwilę wycisnąć z oczu łzy. O wojnie w Czeczenii wiedziałam tyle, co nic. Dzięki reportażom Anny Politkowskiej mogłam przybliżyć sobie zbrodnie, które miały miejsce w Czeczenii. Zbrodnie, które w dobie dzisiejszych wydarzeń na Ukrainie, brzmią tak bardzo znajomo.

„Tylko prawda” to książka, której nie da się przeczytać na raz, i to nie ze względu na jej objętość, tylko na mocne i pełne brutalności opisy, przez które momentami trudno było przebrnąć. Anna Politkowska nie owijała w bawełnę, pisała otwarcie o tym, czego doświadczyli ludzie w czasie wojny w Czeczenii, o tym, czego sama była świadkiem. Politkowska była świadoma zagrożenia, ale nie powstrzymało ją to w dążeniu do prawdy, otwarcie mówiła o bestialstwie, cierpieniu i bólu. Nagłaśniała zbrodnie, o których inni milczeli oraz doprowadzała do ukarania tych, którzy wcześniej byli bezkarni. Miała wielu przeciwników, którzy nie pochwalali tego, co robiła. Jej determinacja, bezkompromisowość i zawziętość ostatecznie doprowadziły do jej śmierci.

„Tylko prawda” to niewątpliwie przerażający, a jednocześnie tak bardzo intrygujący reportaż, który czytałam z zapartym tchem, strona za stroną pochłaniałam kolejne wydarzenia ukazujące nam kawałek historii. Opisy ludobójstwa, jakiego dopuścili się Rosjanie, wobec narodu czeczeńskiego na długo pozostaną mi w pamięci.
Szczerze polecam zbiór reportaży Anny Politkowskiej, które są nie tylko spuścizną ukazującą wszechstronność autorki i jej niezwykle zaangażowanie, to również obraz głębokiego człowieczeństwa. Mam nadzieję, że sięgnięcie po te reportaże, które, choć napisane wiele lat temu, są przerażająco aktualne.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this inexorably taxing to read, even though I keep up with several periodicals such as the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Modern Cat. I like to fill out as much of the crossword puzzles as I can in the New York Times to test the limits of my mind. I never get far. That tends to be the humour of the day.

I knew previously about Anna Politkovskaya's denouement. Now I see why the FSB (the current name of the KGB, Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, Committee for State Security) off'ed this lady. Okay, now that I have summarised what happened in this book, I like it much better. (Two to four stars - the reason I did not give it the fifth is that I got confused.)
I will warn you, it is a bit tricky to get through if you're used to literature though.
The way I made it through the whole book is the way I survived all my history work: identify what questions I have about the piece of work, then search for the answer. If it is not there, abandon the process.

So if you also want to take a look at why the former Soviet Union's security task force murdered this lady, peek at this collection of her last words.
For what it's worth, I don't think journalism is worth dying for. I will get more than one source but I do not want to go to that extreme.

[Padmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Di tutti i libri di Anna Politkovskaja, questo è il più tragico e potente: un documento straordinario dove i suoi articoli apparsi sulla «Novaja gazeta», testi ancora inediti, promemoria personali e testimonianze confluiscono in una sorta di ininterrotto reportage sulla Russia che preparò e seguì l’ascesa al potere di Vladimir Putin – dall’ottobre 1999 a fine settembre 2006, pochi giorni prima della morte avvenuta il 7 ottobre nell’androne di casa per mano di un killer. Per Anna Politkovskaja l’unico giornalismo possibile era un giornalismo «sanitario» – così lei lo definiva –, teso a proclamare una verità che si imprime nella memoria anche grazie al vigore dello stile, al senso dello humour, all’alta percettività nello scandagliare l’anima di vincitori e vinti.
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Ho particolarmente apprezzato gli articoli che trattano eventi a me più familiari (i fatti del 23-26 ottobre 2002 al teatro Dubrovka di Mosca durante il secondo atto dello spettacolo teatrale Nord-Ost; la strage di Beslan avvenuta fra il 1º e il 3 settembre 2004 nella scuola Numero 1 di Beslan, nell'Ossezia del Nord), ma ciascun "pezzo" è esemplare.
Anna Politkovskaja è stata una giornalista immensa, capace come pochi di coniugare professionalità e umanità.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must-read for any journalist, and highly recommended for anyone interested Putin's Russia, investigative reporting, and world affairs. Politkovskaya, as one would expect from someone who investigated torture and abuse throughout Russia, is fearless, smart, and driven - but she is also unexpectedly funny and wry. The tragedy of her life and career is that she was the voice Russia needed to uncover the atrocities committed in Chechnya; but had she been able to leave to leave Russia, to report elsewhere in the world, there would have been no limit to what she could have accomplished. Instead, she was murdered in her prime by thugs loyal to Vladimir Putin. The answer, posed by the question in the title, is yes.

[Bruddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prior to her murder in 2007, Anna Politkovskaya achieved international renown as a journalist, human rights advocate, and vocal critic of Vladimir Putin. Reading this collection of her final writings, it’s impossible not to admire her courageous commitment to truth and to draw a stark contrast between her respect for human life and dignity with that of the Putin regime. Is Journalism Worth Dying For? asks the reader to consider if it’s worth losing your life to expose the crimes of the powerful? Is it worth dying to give voice to the defenseless? Politkovskaya certainly felt so, and she paid the horrible price.

[BeaPac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un’altro libro difficile da leggere soprattutto letto mentre la guerra in Ucraina è in corso. Una realtà una quotidianità fatta di violenza, prevaricazione, paura e sfiducia. Due frasi per riassumere 500 pagine di rabbia e tristezza:

La pace serve alle capanne, la guerra ai palazzi.

Trattare è possibile, certo. E inevitabile. Le guerre finiscono sempre e solo attorno a un tavolo.

Ma quando finiranno queste guerre?
A che prezzo?
Le guerre non sono mai necessarie! Basta con le guerre! Litigate tra di voi! Ma lasciateci in PACE!

[Ion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Une collection des articles publiés pas Anna Politkovskaïa dans le journal Novaya Gazeta. Les articles sont en plus part sur le sujet des deux guerres tchetchenes et ils sont très difficiles à digérer à cause de la durité de la réalité.
À la fin il y a aussi quelques articles sur Anna écrits par ses amies et son mari, qui lui donne une note personnel.
Recommandé pour connaître la realité des conflits tchetchens.

[EMILIO SCUTTI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una grande giornalista: servirebbero tante parole per descrivere l’emozione che questo testo postumo riserva al lettore fortunato che lo ha tra le mani . Putin prima di Putin, la Russia guerrafondaia che affilava le armi e faceva le prove di guerra in cecenia e di dittatura servendosi del proprio apparato dei servizi segreti. La politkoskaja insegue la verità si aggrappa ad essa ed a nient’altro verrà ricambiata con la morte ma la sua vita non è stata vana , il libro lo testimonia !

[Andrei Brinzai · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of dispatches from one of the most fearless and respected journalists in recent history. Anna was an example of what journalism should be and a voice for the voiceless. The articles are captivating, sad, but also funny at times. One would need to be acquainted with the subject matter, as the book does not follow a strict chronology, so it can be confusing for some readers.

[eradicembre · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5