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Politkovskaya death retrial opens New delay in Politkovskaya case
(about 6 hours later)
A retrial over the killing of Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya has opened in Moscow. A retrial over the killing of Russian investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya has been adjourned, following a complaint by her relatives.
Sergei Khadzhikurbanov and brothers Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudov were acquitted in February of involvement in Ms Politkovskaya's death. The judge in Moscow is to consider the family's plea for the case to be sent back to prosecutors and for a new investigation to be launched.
But critics said the trial was farcical and Russia's Supreme Court ordered a retrial over procedural violations. The retrial began on Wednesday. Three men are in the dock, accused of being accessories to the 2006 murder.
Ms Politkovskaya was a staunch critic of the Kremlin - her supporters allege official involvement in her death. Their lawyers accepted the adjournment. The next hearing will be on Friday.
Russia's Supreme Court ordered a retrial over procedural violations.
Sergei Khadzhikurbanov and brothers Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudov had been acquitted in February of involvement in Ms Politkovskaya's death.
Alleged killer at large
Ms Politkovskaya, who gained prominence by exposing human rights abuses by the Russian army in Chechnya, was shot dead in the entrance hall of her apartment building in Moscow in October 2006.
She was a staunch critic of the Kremlin - and her supporters allege official involvement in her death.
The Kremlin has dismissed such claims.The Kremlin has dismissed such claims.
None of the three men standing trial in Moscow are accused of being the actual killer. None of the three men standing trial in Moscow is accused of being the actual killer.
The suspected gunman, Rustam Makhmudov - brother of two of the other suspects - has still not been caught. And campaigners say it is those who ordered the killing that they really want to see in the dock.
Ms Politkovskaya was shot in her apartment building in 2006Ms Politkovskaya was shot in her apartment building in 2006
The suspected gunman, Rustam Makhmudov - brother of two of the other suspects - has still not been caught. The Politkovskaya family and their supporters say it is those who ordered the killing that they really want to see in the dock.
One of the family's lawyers, Karina Moskalenko, said "the crime is not solved yet. The investigation has not come to any final conclusions and that is why we made all these appeals today".
"Our goal is to not let the crime go unpunished, our goal is to see the investigation completed and the crime solved."
The family's lawyers have now asked the judge to consider merging this case with the investigation into Rustam Makhmudov.
Legal wrangling
Defence lawyer Murad Musayev said he would not try to prevent the case going back to the prosecutors.
"Sending it back to the prosecutors will not permit an objective inquiry, but despite this I will not oppose the request," he said.
The Supreme Court decision to order a retrial - taking place at the same military court in Moscow where the first trial was held - came after prosecutors appealed against the original not-guilty verdicts.The Supreme Court decision to order a retrial - taking place at the same military court in Moscow where the first trial was held - came after prosecutors appealed against the original not-guilty verdicts.
The process of the trial was also strongly criticised by Russian journalists and human rights groups. The trial procedure was also strongly criticised by Russian journalists and human rights groups.
Ms Politkovskaya's supporters have always said that even guilty verdicts would not be satisfactory while the killer remains at large.Ms Politkovskaya's supporters have always said that even guilty verdicts would not be satisfactory while the killer remains at large.
Her son, Ilya Politkovsky, told the AFP news agency he would use the retrial to "insist that the case be sent back to investigators".
Ms Politkovskaya, who gained prominence by exposing human rights abuses by the Russian army in Chechnya, was shot dead in the entrance hall of her apartment building in Moscow in 2006.
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.