Witness in Politkovskaya's murder case disappears

The citizen of the Republic of Belarus, who had earlier evidenced in the murder case of Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist of the "Novaya Gazeta", has disappeared somewhere outside Russia.

In late 2010, the now missing witness, whose name is not disclosed, told in his video interview the details of Politkovskaya's murder. In particular, he named the persons involved in the resonant crime. After that, he disappeared abroad. The investigators who run the case could not talk to him, the newspaper "Izvestia" reports.

Concerning the disappeared person, it is only known that he was a citizen of the Republic of Belarus; and in 2008 he was convicted for frauds. He was closely acquainted with the relatives of the murdered journalist. When he was in the "Butyrka" SIZO (pre-trial prison), he suggested through intermediaries some information of particular value to the defence of Politkovskaya's family in exchange for guarantees of his own safety.

In particular, the SIZO inmate put forward the following conditions: he should be helped to move to Germany; and some housing should be bought for him there. All the witness's conditions were fulfilled. Later, he told journalists and those who defend the interests of Politkovskaya's family about what he had promised - in a format of a video interview, which lasted for six hours. After this, the witness disappeared abroad.

So far, the investigators refuse to state the role the witness had played in Politkovskaya's murder. In their opinion, Karina Moskalenko, the advocate of the family of the assassinated journalist, may know the present whereabouts of the informant, since she is supposed to keep the sensational video record with his confessions.