Three charged over Politkovskaya killing

THREE CHECHEN men have been charged over the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006.

Russia’s Investigative Committee said a fourth man, an officer with the country’s security service, had also been charged with abuse of office. Officials had earlier named a man suspected of firing the gun as Rustam Makhmudov, another Chechen. He remains at large.

The International Federation of Journalists said it welcomed the move, but added that those who ordered the killing must also face charges.

“We welcome the fact that there is justice on the way but in order for it to be fully delivered those who ordered the killing must be held accountable,” said IFJ General Secretary Aidan White.

Anna Politkovskaya was an internationally renowned investigative journalist whose reports on human rights abuses by Russian forces in Chechnya greatly annoyed the Kremlin.

More than 200 journalists have been killed in Russia since 1993. While President Vladimir Putin was in power around 20 killings of journalists took place and none of them have led to convictions of the perpetrators.

The Journalist is published by the National Union of Journalists