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'Politician behind' Russia murder Russia murder trial open to media
(about 2 hours later)
The murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya was ordered by a Russian politician, a defence lawyer has said. The trial of three men charged in connection with the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya has been re-opened to the public by the judge.
Murad Musayev is representing four men charged over Ms Politkovskaya's murder at a trial in Moscow, which has now been re-opened to the public. Russian prosecutors have suggested that someone abroad ordered her killing, defence lawyer Murad Musayev said.
Mr Musayev told reporters that the unnamed politician, based in Russia, was mentioned in the case files. But Mr Musayev told the court one of the theories written in the case notes suggested that an unnamed politician, based in Russia, was behind her death.
Ms Politkovskaya, a leading critic of Russia's policies in Chechnya, was shot dead outside her Moscow house in 2006. Ms Politkovskaya was shot dead outside her Moscow house in 2006.
She was a leading critic of Russia's policies in Chechnya.
Ms Politkovskaya's supporters believe state security agents were involved in her murder - and for that reason, they say, there will never be a fair trial at Moscow's military court.Ms Politkovskaya's supporters believe state security agents were involved in her murder - and for that reason, they say, there will never be a fair trial at Moscow's military court.
New twistNew twist
"During the investigative stage, the prosecutor general stated that [the person who had ordered the killing] was someone big and horrible abroad," Mr Musayev was quoted as saying by Russia's Ria Novosti news agency. Earlier reports suggested Mr Musayev had said the theory involving the politician inside Russia was the correct one, but he later said that this was only one of the proposals included in the case notes.
The judge reversed his earlier decision to hold a closed-door trialThe judge reversed his earlier decision to hold a closed-door trial
"But in court we can see in the indictment [conclusions] that this someone is not so big and horrible - it is a politician based in the country," the said. He added the indictment mentioned Ms Politkovskaya's articles as a motive for her killing.
Mr Musayev added the indictment mentioned Ms Politkovskaya's articles as a motive for her killing. The presiding judge's decision on Tuesday to re-open the trial to the public and lift a ban on journalists covering it was the latest twist in the murder case.
The presiding judge's decision on Tuesday to re-open the trial to the public was the latest twist in the murder case. The judge had originally declared the trial open when the hearings opened earlier this month, but last week he said it would be held behind closed doors, prompting protests from Ms Politkovskaya's family and lawyers.
The judge had originally declared the trial open when the hearings opened earlier this month, but last week he said it would be held behind closed doors, prompting protests form Ms Politkovskaya's family and lawyers.
'Farce''Farce'
Three men - former policeman Sergey Khadzhikurbanov and two Chechen brothers, Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudov - are charged with involvement in the murder plot - but not with either carrying out the murder or ordering it.Three men - former policeman Sergey Khadzhikurbanov and two Chechen brothers, Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudov - are charged with involvement in the murder plot - but not with either carrying out the murder or ordering it.
Pavel Ryaguzov, an officer with Russia's security service, has also appeared before the court. He is charged with abuse of office and extortion.Pavel Ryaguzov, an officer with Russia's security service, has also appeared before the court. He is charged with abuse of office and extortion.
Investigators have said Rustam Makhmudov - who is believed to have fired the fatal shot - and the person or persons who ordered Mr Politkovskaya's killing remain at large. Investigators have said Rustam Makhmudov - a third brother from the same Chechen family who is believed to have fired the fatal shot - and the person or persons who ordered Mr Politkovskaya's killing remain at large.
Some of Ms Politkovskaya's colleagues have described the trial as a "farce".Some of Ms Politkovskaya's colleagues have described the trial as a "farce".
Investigative reportersInvestigative reporters
The murder of Ms Politkovskaya, who wrote for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, shocked the international community but did not have the same impact in Russia.The murder of Ms Politkovskaya, who wrote for the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, shocked the international community but did not have the same impact in Russia.
Ms Politkovskaya had frequently travelled to Chechnya and the North Caucasus, where her dispatches described some of the horror of a war where most of the casualties were civilians.Ms Politkovskaya had frequently travelled to Chechnya and the North Caucasus, where her dispatches described some of the horror of a war where most of the casualties were civilians.
She was the 13th journalist to be killed in a contract-style killing in Russia during Vladimir Putin's period as president, according to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists.She was the 13th journalist to be killed in a contract-style killing in Russia during Vladimir Putin's period as president, according to the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists.
Mr Putin - who had served the maximum two consecutive terms in office - was succeeded by Dmitry Medvedev in May.Mr Putin - who had served the maximum two consecutive terms in office - was succeeded by Dmitry Medvedev in May.