Court session on Anna Politkovskaya's murder postponed until July 31

The trial on the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, an observer of the "Novaya Gazeta", that takes place at the Moscow City Court (MCC), has been postponed until July 31 because of the absence of Murad Musaev, the advocate of the defendant Djabrail Makhmudov.

All the participants in the trial found it impossible to continue the process in the absence of the advocate; and Judge Pavel Melekhin has announced, in the presence of the jury, that the trial is postponed until 11:00 a.m. Moscow time of July 31, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Let us remind you that the consideration of the murder case of the observer of the "Novaya Gazeta" Anna Politkovskaya, the author of articles on Chechnya and Northern Caucasus, began on July 24. Five persons are in the prisoner's dock: a Chechen businessman Lom-Ali Gaitukaev, who is considered by investigators to be the organizer of the crime, his three nephews Rustam, Ibragim and Djabrail Makhmudov and a former policeman Sergey Khdjikurbanov. They all refused to plead guilty.

The victims in the case and their legal representatives did not take part in choosing the jury; and, therefore, they refused to participate in the trial, stating that it is them illegitimate. However, the process goes on without them.