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Monday, 27.08.2007
Politkovskaya murder: Secret service employees involved
Moscow. Officers of the Russian secret service (FSB) and the Russian Ministry of the Interior (MVD) are alleged to have been involved in the murder of journalist Anna Politovskya, state prosecutor Yuri Chaika announced at a press conference. Chaika named the head of a criminal organisation in Moscow as the likely organiser of the murder. The man is of Chechen origins, but Chaika did not reveal his name.
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“The investigation into the crime lasted ten months. A total of ten people have been arrested, including those directly responsible for organising and carrying out the crime,” said Chaika.
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“I will also say straight off that one current and one former member of the Ministry of the Interior and one employee of the Federal Security Service (FSB) were involved in monitoring and providing information about Politkovskaya. They have also been arrested,” said the State Prosecutor General.
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The journalist Politkovskaya was shot dead on 7th October, 2006, in the entrance to her apartment block on Lesnaya Street in the heart of Moscow. Her attackers shot her at close range and then escaped without being seen.
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Her murder in broad daylight caused international consternation. Relations of Western states to Russia cooled markedly in its wake. Media commentaries even went so far as to name the Russian government as being behind the murder.
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(cj/.rufo)
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