Anna Politkovskaya, an accomplished Russian journalist and activist, passed away on October 7, 2006 at the age of 48. She was best known for her reporting on the Chechen Wars and her outspoken criticism of the Russian government. Politkovskaya began her reporting career in the early 1980s in the former Soviet Union. She worked for several newspapers and magazines covering politics and social issues. In 2000, she became a correspondent for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper where she focused on Chechnya and other fragile areas in the Caucasus region. Politkovskaya gained international recognition and won numerous awards for her journalistic work, often exposing the truth and standing up for justice even at great personal risk. She consistently campaigned against human rights abuses and for greater transparency, freedom, and democracy in Russia. Politkovskaya was an inspiring figure who leaves behind a tremendous legacy. Her work and courageous actions will long be remembered by those who knew and admired her.