INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
reporter who split her time until recently between Moscow and Alabama, died June 24 in Tijuana, Mexico
24 invasion of Ukraine, Francesca regularly wrote and gave interviews about the war for Italian media
At The Moscow Times, where she was a staff writer in 2003-2009, she reported on domestic politics and the Russian security services
Editor in Chief / Managing Editor / Night Editor, 1998-2006Francesca had a warm smile and a kind heart, as many people have noted since her
We should all be as fortunate to be remembered that way
institutions and crush any opposition to his rule
I remember her quiet indignation
And how hard she worked to write the stories she cared about so much
For Francesca, neither of those two languages was her native one
memories of a truly outstanding human and professional into 200 words
As diverse as the newsroom was at the time, Francesca always stood out
She was the only one who never allowed herself to be grumpy, moody or in any other way (visibly) unhappy
Coming across a ray of light like her was a blessing and, coupled with her professionalism and drive, pure luck for any colleague fortunate
politics, Russian cultural life, yoga, in later years the blues scene in Alabama and so much more.Years went by, locations changed, but
should be more people like you in the world, Francesca, not fewer
since I last saw Francesca in the flesh
It is what everybody recalls about her.That and the expansive Italian gestures
then, to top that off, become a Russian citizen?The thing is that some of us do journalism
The day-to-day at The Moscow Times was Duma this and Putin that, but Francesca was never more content than when she wrote about and explored
the dignity and suffering of ordinary human beings.Simon Saradzhyan, MT Deputy Editor / News Editor / Staff Writer, 1998-2008Always smiling,
were often gloomy.On her first day of work she impressed me with her cheerful, upbeat personality and that impression was then supplemented
well as their parliamentary rivals) into disclosing all sorts of astounding news was unmatched.While working with her colleagues to break
news and write thoughtful analysis, she also never forgot to remind us of the importance of enjoying life.It is grim news for all of us that
Francesca is no longer with us, but I hope she is now in a better place.You will always be alive in our memories, dear Francesca.Oksana
Yablokova, MT Staff Writer, 1999-2006For my dear friend Francesca Mereu:Most people are too unnecessarily complex and it is usually
impossible to describe them with one word
Francesca, my dear friend of almost 19 years, was a universally nice person, liked by everyone who knew her
In fact, I often wondered where she got the energy to be nice, positive and friendly always, with everyone
While she and her husband, Sergey, still lived in Moscow, the only thing that could upset her sometimes was the nasty climate, which she
could not stand, born under the sun of beautiful Sardinia.I remember we once traveled to Sardinia together and Francesca would make jokes
Anyone who ever met her would remember, first and foremost, her beautiful smile.We saw each other only three times over the past 10 years
but Francesca somehow always stayed in touch
She wrote to me shortly after Feb
never forget you, my dear friend.Natasha Yefimova-Trilling, MT News Editor / Staff Writer, 1999-2003When I think of Francesca, I think of
She radiated warmth, enthusiasm, curiosity, openness, and they were infectious
She was the person I wanted most for a guide because I wanted to see through her eyes; I knew she would home in on the most genuine, most
telling, most vital parts of a place, its beating hearts
It inevitably made me smile back, like magic from a distant past
And the earth is poorer for losing you, lovely Francesca.
