Russia's SC postpones cassation on Pavlyuchenkov's verdict

Today, the judicial panel on criminal cases of the Supreme Court (SC) of the Russian Federation has failed for the second time to consider the cassation complaint lodged by the defence of the convict in the murder case of Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist of the "Novaya Gazeta". Because of Pavlyuchenkov's illness, the consideration was indefinitely postponed.

On December 14, 2012, the Moscow City Court (MCC) found Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov guilty in the case of murdering Politkovskaya and sentenced him to 11 years of high security colony. Pavlyuchenkov signed an agreement with the investigation and pled completely guilty. His case was isolated into a separate proceeding and was heard by the court under a special procedure.

His defence appealed against the verdict on December 22, 2012; the consideration of the cassation complaint by the SC had been appointed for February 14; however, the session was delayed because of Pavlyuchenkov's poor health; he was hospitalized diagnosed as "epilepsy". A complaint against the verdict to the former employee of the Moscow GUVD (Chief Interior Department) was also lodged by the suffered party.

Karen Nersisyan, the convict's advocate, told the court that Pavlyuchenkov was still sick; and confirmed it with medical documents.