On Sunday family, friends and human rights defenders gathered to mark the first anniversary of the killing of Anna Politkovskaya, demanding action to bring the perpetrators to justice.

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Posted 08/10/2007 On Sunday 7 October as family and friends gathered at the grave of Anna Politkovskaya to mark the first anniversary of her killing, human rights defenders, former colleagues and supporters gathered to protest at the failure of the authorities to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. Prominent activists have signed a letter, which was published in the British newspaper, "The Times", calling on Russia to bring the killers of Politkovskaya to justice.

The investigation of Politkovskaya’s murder is still ongoing. Over 10 people have been arrested including members of the security services but as yet no one has been formally charged. Elsewhere in the Russian capital, rights groups put up an exhibition of photos from Chechnya, the main subject of Politkovskaya's work, in a small park near the Kremlin. "I think it's the best way to remember her, to remember her work, to show that her work has not died," said Tatyana Lokshina from the Demos human rights group, one of the organisers of the photo exhibit.

In London the frontline Club hosted a special evening honouring Anna on the first anniversary of her murder and marking the launch of the RAW in WAR Anna Politkovskaya Award for women human rights defenders from war and conflict. The award will be given every year to a woman human rights defender from a conflict zone in the world who, like Anna, stands up for the victims, often at a great personal risk.

The first RAW in WAR Anna Politkovskaya Award for women human rights defenders from war and conflict was presented by Nobel Laureate Mairead Corrigan to Natasha Kandic, a prominent human rights lawyer from Belgrade.