12:21, 25 December 2013

Alexei Mikhalchik: defendant in case of Anna Politkovskaya's murder transferred to SIZO special module

Sergey Khadjikurbanov, one of the defendants in the case of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, an observer of the newspaper "Novaya Gazeta", was transferred to a special regime module of the SIZO (pre-trial prison) "Matrosskaya Tishina" (Sailor's Silence) in Moscow. This was reported by his advocate Alexei Mikhalchik.

"I do not aware of the reasons for such a decision," Alexei Mikhalchik has explained. He has noted that, perhaps, Sergey Khadjikurbanov was isolated, since investigators believed he organized threatening of Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, the "News" reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in March 2013, Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov was sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment for the murder of Anna Politkovskaya. Since he completely admitted his guilt, his case was considered in a special manner. At the court session held on September 18, Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov reported on the roles of other defendants in organization of the crime. During the court session held on November 12, Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov complained about constant threats to his address.

"During escorting to the court sessions, some people recommended Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov to keep silence and not to testify on 'Anna Politkovskaya's murder'. Apparently, investigators concluded that all this was organized by Sergey Khadjikurbanov," the advocate has suggested.