Anna Politkovskaya: Russian convicted of journalist murder gets pardon

Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, one of the individuals convicted in connection with the 2006 murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, has been pardoned, according to his lawyer. Khadzhikurbanov, a former Moscow police officer, was sentenced to 20 years in 2014 for providing logistical support for the crime.

His lawyer stated that he received a presidential pardon after completing a six-month military contract, during which he served as a special forces fighter.

The murder of Politkovskaya, an investigative reporter critical of Russia’s actions in Chechnya, remains unsolved in terms of who ordered the killing. The Russian defense ministry has reportedly been recruiting prisoners for military operations in Ukraine, following the precedent set by the Wagner mercenary group. In the 2014 trial, Rustam Makhmudov, the triggerman, received a life sentence, while others involved, including Khadzhikurbanov, faced varying prison terms.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright