Russian Police Arrest Chechen in Politkovskaya Murder Case

Its been 11 months since Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative journalist internationally renowned for reporting abuses carried out by soldiers in Chechnya, was found dead in her Moscow apartment.

Two weeks ago, Russia’s Prosecutor General’s office announced it had solved the case after arresting 10 people in late August.  Now, Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda is reporting that former Chechen official, Shamil Burayev, has been arrested on suspicion of “organizing a murder.”  Reportedly, the Basmanny District Court approved the arrest one day after his detention.

Burayev served as the head of Chechen district Achkoi-Martan for 8 years, until fired by Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov in 2003.  That same year, Burayev was an unsuccessful candidate for the Chechen presidency. 

Burayev was arrested on Thursday while driving through the streets of Moscow.

While the police have yet to comment on the case, Interfax news agency ran a quote from one of Burayev’s relatives stating “we don’t yet have any reliable information as to whether he is under arrest or not, but they told us he could be freed in a short while.”

According to Komsomolskay Pravda, Burayev’s alleged involvement in the Politkovskaya murder case was uncovered in relation to the arrest of Lt. Col. Pavel Ryaguzov, a member of Russia’s Federal Security Service, who was one of the 10 people arrested back in late August.

The tabloid reported that Ryaguzov allegedly gave Politkovksaya’s address to someone who had a role in her murder.  It is now suspected that Burayev was the “someone” who received the address.

Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika has stated in the past that Politkovksaya’s murder was organized by a Chechen crime group, based in Moscow, and specializing in contract killings.

Thus far, the handling of Politkovskaya’s murder investigation has been criticized internationally, but especially by her colleagues at Novaya Gazeta, the newspaper where she worked.  The editors of Novaya Gazeta have said that leaks of suspects’ names, like Burayev, are compromising the investigation.

The execution-style murder of Anna Politkovskaya last October aroused concerns of reporter safety in Russia.  A US-based group, the Committee to Protect Journalists has reported 13 contract-type murders in Russia since Putin has come into office.

For more information please see:

Yahoo - Chechen Detained in Reporter's Death – 15 September 2007.

New York Times - Chechen Former Official Is Held in Reporter’s Death – 16 September 2007.

RadioFreeEurope - Chechen Arrested On Suspicion Of Ordering Politkovskaya Hit - 15 September 2007.

Reuters - Russia arrests Chechen in Politkovskaya Probe-Reports - 15 September 2007.

Impunity Watch - 10 Arrested in Killing of Russian Journalist Politkovskaya - 27 August 2007.