I feel bad for the children who have lost their mother.

I feel bad for the friends who have lost their friend.

I feel bad for the people she will not be able to help.

I feel bad for those who loved her and who were loved by her.

I feel bad for Novaya Gazeta, which has lost a colleague, honest and brave.

I feel bad for her truth, now unprotected.

I feel very bad for Anna Politkovskaya.

Why did they kill her? Why did they kill Yuri Shchekochikhin? Why did they kill Igor Domnikov?

What has frightened those who order and encourage the murder of journalists?

They do not fear discovery.

They do not respond to facts and evidence.

They ignore opinions and arguments.

They despise dissent.

They don’t give a damn for the views of the public.

Then why did they kill Anna Politkovskaya five years ago in the entrance to her home on Lesnaya?

For her words, which were heard.

Her lone efforts denied the omnipotence of the powers that be.

Anya was a person of zeal. But she was a regular person. A woman. She grew inside herself, and it was not easy for her to be with that person. And it was not easy to be with her. But that’s how she lived – vanishing into others, helping others, saving others. And aggravating others yet. She was a fighter on the frontlines, the location of which she chose herself.

And on this frontline, she was killed.

Five years have passed. Through the efforts of investigators, lawyers and the editors of Novaya Gazeta, the case of Anna Politkovskaya’s murder is moving forward, with difficulty, but forward nonetheless. Those suspected of carrying out and organising the murder are being investigated. The one who ordered the murder has yet to be discovered.

But we are certain that everyone will get what they deserve sooner or later. It is not vengeance we seek, but the fulfilment of duty.

The debt will be paid. By all.