Three Acquitted in Journalist Murder

Politkovskaya wrote about Russia’s war with Chechnya, the secret services and opposition to then-President Vladimir Putin for the independent Novaya Gazeta. Her coverage brought her death threats and an apparent poisoning attempt. She was gunned down outside her Moscow apartment in October 2006.

Body Left on Elevator Floor

Politkovskaya, 48, apparently met the gunman in the elevator of her flat; she was shot in the chest twice and in the head once and left on the floor of the lift. The gun used in her killing was found thrown down beside her as is the practice of Moscow hitmen. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, she was the 13^th journalist to be murdered while Putin was president from 2000 to 2008.

The trial was not without its quirks. Judge Yevgeny Zuvov first closed the trial to the public, claiming the jury wanted it that way, and then opened it again after a juror phoned a radio station, saying the jury had said no such thing. Pieces of evidence also disappeared, including video footage of the assassin entering Politkovskaya’s building, computer discs and mobile phone cards. Investigators were also unable to name the person who ordered Politkovskaya’s murder or produce their alleged gunman, who has reportedly fled to Western Europe.

The 12-member jury handed down the “not guilty” verdicts after two hours of deliberations.

Call for Continued Investigation

Journalists worldwide called on Russian prosecutors to continue working to find Politkovskaya’s killer.

“No prosecution will be complete until the triggerman and mastermind are in the dock,” said CPJ Europe and Central Asia program coordinator Nina Ognianova. “We call on Russian investigators to thoroughly probe all leads, gather solid evidence and bring all the perpetrators of this murder to justice.”

“Russian prosecutors have so far shown that they are incapable of bringing to justice those who orchestrated this crime,” said David Dadge, director of the International Press Institute, which promotes press freedom. “If the Russian justice system is to retain any credibility, the authorities need to redouble their efforts in this investigation and prosecute the killers, no matter how highly placed they may be.”

Vsevolod Bogdanov, the chair of the Russian Union of Journalists, told the Interfax news agency, “I have this feeling of incredible shame.” He said, “At what level was the investigation conducted that the jurors delivered this verdict unanimously?”

Prosecutors said they would appeal, claiming Judge Zuvov committed procedural violations. 

-- Beth Kampschror