February 02, 2026

Vandalism at a Murder Site


Vandalism at a Murder Site
Grief won’t bring back those who were killed. The Russian Life files

In recent months, a memorial plaque for murdered journalist Anna Politkovskaya has been torn down numerous times, only to be replaced by activists.

The first incident took place on January 18, when the original plaque to Politkovskaya was destroyed. The court found a certain Alexander Filippov guilty and fined him R1,000 (about $13). 

The day after the plaque was destroyed, activists installed a new, temporary one made of foam board, but it too was soon torn down by unknown persons. The situation began to repeat itself over and over again; responsibility for the destruction was claimed by both residents of the building and neo-Nazi groups.

On January 27, the Telegram channel “Ostrozhno, novosti” reported that the plaque had been torn down for a seventh time. According to state-run newspaper Kommersant, representatives of the Yabloko party intend to join the fight for the plaque and have already put up a new one.

"While the existence of this plaque did not bother many people for many years, today its destruction persistently brings back into the public eye the very fact of the murder that took place in the elevator of this building,” said Alexander Politkovsky, husband of the journalist.

Politkovskaya wrote about crimes in Chechnya for Novaya Gazeta and the investigation into her murder concluded that the motive was grounded in her professional activities. A stone plaque was installed on her apartment building's façade on the first anniversary of the tragedy, in 2007. 

Today, nearly 20 years after her murder, the memory of the crime has become a battleground between two irreconcilable political camps, and it is unfolding at 8 Lesnaya Street in Moscow. Notably, one of the accomplices to the crime, former police officer Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, was freed from prison to participate in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was not only pardoned, but received an order for bravery in 2023.

You Might Also Like

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955