Russian Politician Accused of Ordering Murder of Reporter

by Ese Omofoma
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia - A defense lawyer for one of three men charged in the killing of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya said that their indictment indicates a politician inside Russia ordered her killing. Attorney Murad Musayev, said the indictment named no specific figure, but said the person who masterminded her slaying was a political figure living inside Russia. 

"In the indictment, we read that ... this is a political figure inside the Russian Federation and that he ordered this crime to punish Anna Politkovskaya for critical publications," Musayev told reporters gathered at the courthouse.

Musayev's statement contradicts authorities' suggestions that the killing was the work of a Kremlin foe acting from abroad and casts more suspicion on an already controversial case.

Yesterday, lawyers acting for Politkovskaya's family said that it was now abundantly clear that the journalist had been murdered from inside Russia, and that her death was linked to her work. "The person who gave the order was a political figure. He clearly wasn't happy with the articles Politkovskaya wrote," said lawyer Anna Stavitskaya.

The three men being tried on charges of conspiracy to murder are former Moscow police officer Sergei Khadzhikurbanov and brothers Ibragim and Dzhabrail Makhmudov. Authorities say the man accused of shooting Politkovskaya, Rustam Makhmudovs, has fled the country.

The case is being heard in a military court because a fourth defendant is a Federal Security Service officer. He is accused of criminal links to Khadzhikurbanov, but has not been charged in the killing.

Politkovskaya's family allege the investigation was sabotaged to allow the suspected trigger-man and the unidentified mastermind escape justice.

For more information, please see:

Guardian - Politkovskaya killing order by politician, lawyer claims - 26 November 2008

Independent - Politician 'ordered killing' - 26 November 2008

CNN - Lawyer: Russian politician ordered murder of reporter - 25 November 2008