Tomorrow, Tuesday 10 October, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Norwegian PEN and HRH will take part in a silent protest outside the Russian Embassy in Oslo against the killing of Anna Politkovskaya, right, the bravest critic of Russia´s brutal war in the Chechen Republic. HRH strongly encourages everyone in favour of freedom of expression to join us, exactly at noon, in observing one minute´s silence. (09-OCT-06)

Based on an internally distributed appeal, this article has been translated and prepared for publication here by HRH / Niels Jacob Harbitz. Photo of Anna Politkovskaya: HRH / Maria Dahle.

The Human Rights House in Oslo, represented by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Nowegian PEN and the Human Rights House Foundation, in conjunction with Amnesty International Norway, the Norwegian unions of journalists, writers, editors and the Norwegian Non-Fiction Writers and Translators Association are shocked by the killing of the internationally awarded Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya and will mark this low point in modern Russia´s democratic history with a peaceful demonstration outside the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Appeals will be presented by Amnesty International´s Secretary General Petter Eide, the Director of the Norwegian Human Rights House Bjørn Engesland and Ann Magrit Austenå, Leader of the Norwegian Union of Journalists.

The joint banner for the demonstration is: IS THE ASSASSINATION OF ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA RUSSIAN PRESS FREEDOM? The following joint appeal will be handed over to the Russian Embassy:

Norwegian human rights, journalist and freedom of expression-based organisations react with shock to the news that the critical and awarded journalist and author Anna Politkovskaya was killed in Moscow 7 October 2006. The murder reflects the lawlessness now threatening the Russian press. We strongly condemn the murder.

We demand that
-Russian prosecution authorities carry out an independent investigation
-the results of the investigation are made public
-the responsible are brought to justice in accordance with international law
-a commission of inquiry is established within the Russian Duma to address the persecution of human rights defenders and independent journalists in the Russian Federation.