Probe Ends Into Politkovskaya Murder Suspects

A marble plaque dedicated to Anna Politkovskaya on the apartment building where the journalist and rights activist was killed in Moscow.

Russian investigators have completed their work gathering evidence against the five suspects in the 2006 killing of independent journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

Russia’s Investigative Committee issued a statement on April 18 saying the case will be sent to the Prosecutor-General’s Office for confirmation and then to a court.

Aleksei Mikhalchik, the lawyer for suspect Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, said his client has requested a jury trial.

Khadzhikurbanov, a former policeman, is accused of ordering Politkovskaya’s killing.

Mikhalchik said his client is innocent and questioned the investigation procedures.

Three of the suspects were acquitted of the murder by a jury in 2009 and are being retried.

Politikovskaya was shot dead outside her apartment in Moscow on October 7, 2006.

She was known for her critical investigative reports on Russian politics and the human-rights situation in Chechnya.

Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS