Moscow City Court upholds further custody of defendant accused of killing Anna Politkovskaya

The Moscow City Court refused to release Rustam Makhmudov, accused of murder of Anna Politkovskaya, the journalist of the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta", from the custody.

On December 13, the Basmanny Court of Moscow has decided to extend arrest of Rustam Makhmudov, accused in the case of Anna Politkovskaya's murder, till March 7, 2012.

The panel of judges has dismissed the appeal of Rustam Makhmudov to recognize previously pronounced decision of the District Court of Moscow to extend his detention till March 7 as unlawful, the "Interfax" reports.

Rustam Makhmudov, who participated in the court session via video link from the SIZO (pre-trial prison), said that "the investigator allegedly claimed that I was hiding from the court, although I lived at home and received no summons." "I'm interested in revealing the truth; thus, I'm not going to hide," he has stressed.

The defendant criticized the evidence, gathered by the investigators: in particular, the testimony of the witness who identified him by his specific gait, although the witness saw only his photos. Rustam Makhmudov also treats the characteristics from the SIZO as fabricated. "It indicates intellectual moments, although I passed no tests. Perhaps, my mental capacity is below average; however, it should be proved by the expert assessment," he has emphasized.

Besides, Rustam Makhmudov said that the personnel of the SIZO described him as ill-mannered and conflict man that was not true. "I'm polite; however, when people are rude and say rude things, I react accordingly, and I never go beyond my education," the defendant stated.

He also said the investigator threaten him and demand that he remembered some details, which actually did not occurred, the "RAPSI" (Russian Agency of Legal and Judicial Information) reports.

The prosecutor has also clarified that the charges against Rustam Makhmudov are based on the testimony of another defendant ex-Militia Colonel Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, the alleged organizer of the crime, who said that he gave Rustam Makhmudov a pistol from which Anna Politkovskaya was killed. According to him, this fact was also confirmed by one of the witnesses.

Commenting on Makhmudov's statement that he did not hide from the investigators, the prosecutor reminded that Rustam Makhmudov was put on the international wanted list and used the documents issued to a stranger's name. "This is another crime: a document forgery," he said.

Rustam Makhmudov was charged under Articles "murder", "illicit arms traffic," "abandonment in danger" and "impeding the right to freedom of conscience and religion."