"Memorial": verdict of acquittal on Politkovskaya's case is the failure of investigation

The verdict of acquittal passed by the jury on Anna Politkovskaya's murder case has stemmed out from the unpersuasive position of the investigation, as the Human Rights Centre "Memorial" has stated.

The today's statement of the Centre runs: "We have an impression that the investigation, and then also the court, have deliberately restricted themselves, unwilling to get into the facts, which could lead to the customers of the murder."

Human rights activists also draw attention to the fact that the issue of the executor of the murder had received no clear answer at the stage of preliminary investigation.

Therefore, the prisoner's dock housed the accused helpers to the crime, whose guilt was not evidently proved.

"The important proofs collected by the suffered party were not accepted to consideration in court, despite the numerous petitions moved by the advocates of Politkovskaya's family," runs the document.

Human rights activists assert that they view Anna Politkovskaya's murder as an act of terrorism. However, the authorities, as the press release affirms, never equal attempts on public figures to similar crimes committed against state officials.

"Obviously, representatives of the state believe that political murders of public figures, which have frequented lately, are no threat for our country," the statement further runs.

We remind you that today the judge of the Moscow Regional Military Court has announced his acquittal verdict to all the four figurants in Politkovskaya's murder case.

See earlier reports: "OSCE blames Russian law enforcers for incompetence in Politkovskaya's case," "Prosecution to appeal against jury's verdict on Politkovskaya's case," "At Politkovskaya's murder process, defendants made last plea," "At Politkovskaya's case trial, prosecution moves a new version."