Chechen brothers Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudov and former police officer Sergei Khadzhikurbanov had been accused of helping organize and arrange the contract-style shooting of Politkovskaya. All three could have received life imprisonment if convicted. Prosecutors charge that another Makhmudov brother, Rustam, was the gunman. He remains at large. Politkovskaya wrote about
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
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
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
“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
