Killing of Anna Politkovskaya is a blow against freedom of speech--Finnish FM

9.10.2006 at 9:05

Erkki Tuomioja (soc dem), the foreign minister of EU president Finland, told the Finnish News Agency (STT) on Saturday that the murder of Anna Politkovskaya represented a blow against the freedom of speech.

The Russian journalist and critic of the Kremlin was found shot dead in a lift near her Moscow flat on Saturday.

"I knew Anna Politkovaskaya personally and greatly respected her work and courage. This sort of bloody act is also directed against the freedom of speech. It is important that the Russian authorities are able to quickly solve the case and bring the guilty to justice, wherever the tracks may lead," Mr Tuomioja said.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, the minister told the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) that all eyes would be on Russia for the duration of the murder investigation.

© Copyright STT 2006