2006年VOA标准英语-Prominent Russian Journalist Who Criticized Che

By Bill Gasperini
Moscow
07 October 2006
 
A prominent Russian investigative journalist, known for her criticism of the Kremlin's policies toward war-torn Chechnya, was found shot dead on Saturday.  

		dedicated1 to the memory of the killed journalist Anna Politkovskaya, shown in photos on table" src="/upimg/allimg/070429/1528310.jpg" width="187" border="0" /> In this photo made available from Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, photo-editor Artem Geodokian helps prepare a special issue dedicated to the memory of the killed journalist Anna Politkovskaya, shown in photos on table

Authorities say a neighbor of Anna Politkovskaya found her dead in the hallway of the building where she lived in downtown Moscow. Police say the investigative journalist was shot several times by unknown assailants, and they are investigating her death as a premeditated murder.

Politkovskaya, who was in her 40s, had long worked for the opposition² weekly Novaya Gazeta, or New Journal. She won fame for news articles and commentary pieces that largely focused on the long-running war in Chechnya.

She was known for her bravery working in dangerous conditions in the devastated³ Caucasus Mountain republic, where separatists have been at war with Russian forces for over a decade.

Her articles often focused on alleged⁴ atrocities⁵ committed by Russian forces in Chechnya, as well as corruption⁶ in the armed forces.

She won many awards for her work, including one from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Her editor, Dmitry Muratov, paid tribute to her after the the news of her death. He said Anna Politkovskaya was not afraid of anyone. He said she was completely professional in everything she did.

Politkovskaya was the author of several critical books, including one called, Dirty War: A Russian Reporter in Chechnya.

Two years ago, while flying to southern Russia to cover the Beslan school hostage-taking, she fell ill after sipping⁷ tea.

In 2002, Politkovskaya served as a mediator⁸ between police and Chechen rebels, who seized hundreds of hostages inside a Moscow theater.

Colleagues say she had received death threats in the past, but police say they have no concrete leads as to who might have killed her.

1 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

4 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

5 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 sipping   

v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. 她坐在阳光下懒洋洋地抿着冷饮。
• She sat there, sipping at her tea. 她坐在那儿抿着茶。

8 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。