Anna Politkovskaya was a controversial Russian investigative journalist. Politjkovskaya investigated reports of abuse by the Kremlin during the war in Chechnya, writing pieces highly critical of Vladimir Putin's presidential reign. She was assassinated on October 7, 2006, shot multiple times at point blank range in her apartment building.

Four men face trial for their involvement in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, though the gunman is believed to still be at large. The first trial hearing took place on October 15, 2008.