
Three years after Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya’s murder, her killers are still at large. A fresh inquiry has been ordered, but Politkovskaya’s family say the chances of finding those responsible are fading, says Russia Today.
The men charged with assisting Politkovskaya’s killers are about the same age as her children. The Makhmudov brothers have already stood trial and been found not guilty by a jury. They’re about to face the same charges again after higher courts ordered a new hearing and launched an additional probe into the murder. But for Politkovskaya’s family and friends this is not good enough.
“None of us could be satisfied until not only the executioners, but also the masterminds of this crime are in the dock,” says Sergey Sokolov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, where Politkovskaya worked. Earlier he said that the renewed investigation into the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya now involves new suspects.
Yet it’s the masterminds who’ve yet to be identified. This was one of many question-marks in the investigation that many, including Politkovskaya’s family, criticized as flawed. A charge the chief investigator refuses to accept.
It’s no secret that some of Anna Politkovskaya’s critical stories were not appreciated by the Russian authorities. And while there is still a question as to whether this was a reason behind her murder, her family and friends say it’s the reason why her death should be fully investigated and accounted for.