Moscow residents bring flowers to building where Politkovskaya was killed Residents are bringing flowers to the Moscow building where Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya was killed 20 years ago. Nikolay Rybakov, the leader of the liberal Yabloko party that was barred from Russia’s parliamentary elections, visited the building on Wednesday and attached a new temporary plaque in memory of Politkovskaya. Over the winter, the plaque was destroyed multiple times by unknown vandals. “It is important for society to understand that this was a terrible crime, and for society itself to do everything possible to ensure such things do not happen in Russia. <...> We firmly believe that this will be the case in our country, and that Anna Politkovskaya’s name will be among those cited as having helped bring our nation to a state where nothing is more important than life, freedom, and human rights. Politkovskaya paid a very high price for this [dream], perhaps the highest price one can pay in life," Rybakov said. Meanwhile, two police officers are stationed at the building’s entrance, while a police van is parked a little further down the street near a café. Police stopped at least one person who had laid flowers but released them almost immediately. Those gathered are being asked not to crowd together or block the road. Politkovskaya gained international renown for her exposés of Kremlin corruption and the brutal treatment of civilians in Chechnya at the hands of Russian forces during the Second Chechen War. Despite the risks that came with reporting from Chechnya and the numerous acts of intimidation and violence she was subjected to, Politkovskaya refused to give up writing. She was killed by four gunshots at point-blank range, including one to her head, on 7 October 2006. Media | Ostorozhno, Novosti, SOTAvision