Putin pardons man involved in killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya for fighting in Ukraine
RBC reports that President Vladimir Putin has pardoned one of the men involved in the 2006 killing of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, who was given a 20-year sentence, received a pardon for participating in the Special Military Operation (SVO) in Ukraine.
Khadzhikurbanov’s lawyer, Alexey Mikhalchik, told RBC:
Under the first contract Khadzhikurbanov participated in the SVO as a prisoner, was pardoned, and now participates in the SVO as a freelance military man, having concluded a contract with the Defense Ministry. He worked in special forces in the 90s, he has experience, which is probably why he was immediately offered a command position. I believe that in a sense justice has been served, as I believe that he was not involved in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya.
Update: Politkovskaya’s daughter and son told the newspaper Novaya Gazeta that Khadzhikurbanov’s pardon is a “desecration” of their mother’s memory. In a joint statement, Vera and Ilya said they were never told that one of the men responsible for their mother’s murder has received a presidential pardon. “Seeking justice is pointless. They’ve thrown justice in solitary confinement for discrediting the authorities,” said Politkovskaya’s children.
Anna Politkovskaya was killed in the entrance of her Moscow apartment building on October 7, 2006. Six people were given lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in her murder, ranging from 11 years to life in prison.
Life sentences were handed to Chechen gangster Lom-Ali Gaitukaev, who was convicted of organizing the killing, and his nephew Rustam Makhmudov. Gaitukaev died in prison in June 2017. Three other people, including Khadzhikurbanov, who acted as middlemen in organizing the crime, received between 14 and 20 years in prison.
Special Military Operation (SVO)
Kremlin parlance for the war in Ukraine.