The organizer of Politkovskaya’s murder was pardoned for participation in the SVO – Kommersant

Former Interior Ministry employee Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, sentenced to 20 years for organizing the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, participated in a military operation in Ukraine. He received a pardon, told RBC lawyer Alexey Mikhalchik. He is convinced that Khadzhikurbanov was not involved in the murder and therefore believes that “in a sense, justice has triumphed.”

“Under the first contract, Khadzhikurbanov participated in the SVO as a prisoner, then he was pardoned and now participates in the SVO as a civilian soldier, having entered into a contract with the Ministry of Defense. He worked in special forces in the 90s, he has experience, which is probably why he was immediately offered a command position,” the lawyer explained.

The Telegram channel announced the release of Khadzhikurbanov Baza. According to him, the convict entered the military operation zone at the end of 2022 and began his service as commander of an intelligence department. Khadzhikurbanov “carried out tasks specific to intelligence officers with his fighters” and rose to the rank of battalion commander, the channel writes. After six months of service, he extended his contract with the Ministry of Defense, but it is unknown for how long.

Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead on October 7, 2006 in the elevator of her own house in Moscow. The person who ordered the murder has not yet been identified. Former Moscow police officer Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov was convicted of organizing it; in 2012, the court sentenced him to 11 years of strict regime. In 2014, the perpetrators of the murder, Lom-Ali Gaitukaev and his nephew Rustam Makhmudov, who shot at the journalist, received life sentences. In 2017, Lom-Ali Gaitukaev died in a prison hospital in Vologda. Accomplices of the murderers Ibragim Makhmudov and Dzhabrail Makhmudov (Rustam’s brothers) received 12 years and 13 years 6 months of strict regime.

Laura Keffer