Supreme court ruling widens inquiry into reporter's murder

Published on Thursday 3 September 2009 22:03

RUSSIA'S supreme court changed the rules yesterday for the investigation into Kremlin critic Anna Politkovskaya's killing, giving her family hope for justice and also testing president Dmitry Medvedev's commitment to judicial reform.

But lawyers and colleagues of Ms Politkovskaya, the investigative reporter murdered in 2006, suggested yesterday's court decision could lead to a dead end unless authorities make a true effort to solve a crime that highlighted the risks for those who challenged Vladimir Putin's Kremlin.

In a surprise ruling, the supreme court's military bench reversed a lower court decision and granted a request from Ms Politkovskaya's family for a broader inquiry. Her children have criticised the state for focusing on three suspects accused of minor roles in the shooting.

The court panel ordered prosecutors to merge the men's case with a separate inquiry into the alleged gunman and the search for the mastermind.

On the surface, the ruling opened the door for a more aggressive effort to determine who was behind Ms Politkovskaya's murder. However, lawyer Karinna Moskalenko, who represents Ms Politkovskaya's family, said: "Whether the prosecutor general's office will use this new opportunity we cannot say. We can only hope."