Park of Anna Politkovskaya

Park of Anna Politkovskaya is a small, quiet city park right in the centre of Karlovy Vary, stretching between Krále Jiřího street and the Poštovní schody (Post Office Stairs). It works as both a green pocket for a short rest and a memorial space, carrying the name of a Russian journalist killed for her work.

Why is the park named after Anna Politkovskaya?

Anna Politkovskaya (1958–2006) was a Russian journalist, author and political activist of Ukrainian descent, best known for her fearless reporting on the war in Chechnya and human rights abuses in Russia. She was shot dead in the lift of her own apartment building in Moscow in 2006 — a murder that remains a symbol of the risks faced by independent journalists in Russia.

Karlovy Vary honoured her by naming this park after her in 2012. The idea came from the organisation Člověk v tísni (People in Need), which suggested that Czech towns name streets, squares and parks after dissidents, persecuted journalists and human rights defenders. Karlovy Vary was one of the towns that took up the initiative.

What was planned for this spot before?

Before the park's current name was settled, the city had considered naming a nearby street after Václav Havel. Plans changed, and it was this green plot — rather than a street — that ended up carrying the name of the Russian journalist instead of the Czech dissident and later president.

What is there to see in the park?

Despite its modest size, the park holds a few notable features:

• The sculpture "Nový život" (New Life) — created between 1974 and 1976 by the sculptor couple Antonín Kuchař and Erna Gizela Kuchařová, long before the park took its current name.
• A memorial plaque to Anna Politkovskaya — commemorating the journalist murdered for exposing uncomfortable truths.
• A memorial plaque to Anna Fidlerová (1919–2016) — dedicated to a regional journalist and publicist who was active in Karlovy Vary.

The presence of two plaques honouring journalists from very different backgrounds and eras gives the park a distinctly commemorative character, even though day to day it mainly serves as an ordinary patch of green space for relaxing in the city centre.

Who takes care of the park?

The park is maintained by Správa lázeňských parků (the Spa Parks Administration), the municipal body responsible for the upkeep of Karlovy Vary's spa parks and green areas.

Are any ceremonies held in the park?

Yes. The park is occasionally used for commemorative events tied to 17 November — the Czech Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day, a national holiday marking events from 1939 and 1989. Choosing this location for such acts of remembrance is not a coincidence — it fits naturally with the park's role as a space dedicated to the fight for free speech and human rights.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Park of Anna Politkovskaya located? In the centre of Karlovy Vary, between Krále Jiřího street and the Poštovní schody stairs.

Who was Anna Politkovskaya? A Russian journalist and activist of Ukrainian descent, known for her reporting on the war in Chechnya, murdered in Moscow in 2006.

When did the park receive its name? In 2012, following an initiative by the organisation Člověk v tísni.

What is worth seeing in the park? The sculpture "New Life" from 1974–1976 and memorial plaques dedicated to Anna Politkovskaya and Anna Fidlerová.

Who maintains the park? Správa lázeňských parků, the municipal body that manages Karlovy Vary's spa parks.