Memorial plaque for Starovoitova unveiled

It is the first memorial to Starovoitova, who in the 1990s became one of the most outspoken and respected democrats in Russia.

The plaque, which portrays Starovoitova in profile, is on the wall of her former home at 91 Kanal Griboyedova. She was shot dead in 1998 on the staircase of the building while going up to her apartment.

Six people are on trial for assassinating her. "Galina Vasilyevna Starovoitova, scientist, defender of human rights, and State Duma deputy lived in this building from 1994 to 1998," the plaque says.

"Galina Vasilyevna was a pioneer who turned the country on to the democratic road to development," said Governor Valentina Matviyenko who, together with Starovoitova's son, Platon Borschevsky, unveiled the plaque.

News source: www.sptimes.ru