Russian Man Convicted for Killing Journalist Anna Politkovskaya Receives Presidential Pardon

According to his lawyer, one of the individuals convicted in the 2006 murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya has been granted a pardon after participating in the conflict in Ukraine. Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, a former police officer from Moscow, had initially been sentenced to 20 years in prison. However, after completing a six-month military contract, he has now received a presidential pardon. Khadzhikurbanov was among five individuals convicted for their involvement in the crime. Anna Politkovskaya, an investigative reporter known for her critical coverage of Russia's actions in Chechnya, was shot in her apartment building's elevator. Despite her renowned investigations into Russian abuses in Chechnya, which included heavy criticism of President Vladimir Putin during his second term, her work incited anger among those in power. Khadzhikurbanov's role in the murder was providing logistical support. His lawyer stated that after his military contract expired, he was granted a pardon through a presidential decree. The Russian Defense Ministry has reportedly been recruiting prisoners to fight in Ukraine, following the lead of the Wagner mercenary group, which initiated this practice last year. At the 2014 murder trial, Rustam Makhmudov was sentenced to life imprisonment for actually carrying out the murder. His uncle, Lom-Ali Gaitukayev, who was found guilty of organizing Politkovskaya's murder, was also given a life sentence. Makhmudov's brothers, Dzhabrail and Ibragim, received 14 and 12 years in a penal colony, respectively. The mastermind behind the crime has never been officially identified.