Azhgikhina's book reflects contribution of publications about Caucasus into journalism

Journalism remains a service to the society, insists Nadezhda Azhgikhina, whose collection "Honest Word" includes interviews with Russian and foreign journalists, including those who wrote about the Caucasus. The author spoke about a new genre invented by Elvira Goryukhina while travelling to hot spots.

The book by Nadezhda Azhgikhina, Director of the PEN Centre Moscow, was published by the "Journalist" media group at the end of 2020.

"Many heroes of the book are associated with Caucasian topics – Grigory Shvedov, Valery Yakov, Elvira Goryukhina, Victoria Ivleva and Yulia Kalinina. Ricardo Gutierrez, Secretary General of the European Federation of Journalists, initiated statements about the killings of journalists in the Caucasus," Ms Azhgikhina said.

The author of the book has treated her interlocutors as successors of the best traditions of Russian literature and journalism. "Among them is Elvira Goryukhina - a tree was planted in her honour in the memory alley of perished Dagestani journalists, same as in memory of Politkovskaya, Estemirova and Shhekochikhin. This is the highest recognition of the work of Russian journalists in the Caucasus," Nadezhda Azhgikhina has noted.

Yulia Kalinina, who worked as a correspondent during the Chechen military campaigns, has noted that she was shocked by the indifference of the Russian society to the war. Today, Russians are same indifferent to what is happening far from them, she believes.