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2 Politkovskaya Suspects Freed

Cracks showing in case of murdered Russian journalist

By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 30, 2007 6:13 PM CDT

(Newser) – Two of the 10 suspects arrested Monday in the death of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya were released today, the AP reports, a move that could indicate the prosecution's case is tenuous. A third person taken into custody in the October murder of Politkovskaya—a sharp critic of the government of Vladimir Putin—was said no longer to be linked to the case.

Politkovskaya, who won kudos abroad for her reporting on violence against civilians by the Russia-back government in the southern republic of Chechnya, was gunned down contract-style in an incident prosecutors say was organized by a Chechen group with information from Russian police. But the release of two policemen reinforced skeptics' charges that the arrests were announced too hastily.

Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika speaks at a news conference in Moscow, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. Russia on Monday announced the arrests of 10 people in the killing of journalist and Kremlin critic Anna Politkovskaya, including law enforcement officers and a Chechen crime boss accused of organizing the slaying. Prosecutor General...
Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika speaks at a news conference in Moscow, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. Russia on Monday announced the arrests of 10 people in the killing of journalist and Kremlin critic Anna Politkovskaya,...   (Associated Press)
 Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)
Photo/Sergey Ponomarev)   (Associated Press)
Human rights advocate Lyudmila Alexeyeva speaks in front of a portrait of slain journalist Anna Politkovskaya, during a rally marking what would have been Politkovskaya's 49th birthday in downtown Moscow, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007. About 200 to 300 people, including prominent human rights advocates, journalists and opposition leaders, gathered in...
Human rights advocate Lyudmila Alexeyeva speaks in front of a portrait of slain journalist Anna Politkovskaya, during a rally marking what would have been Politkovskaya's 49th birthday in downtown Moscow,...   (Associated Press)
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