---
title: "Putin pardons man involved in killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya after fighting in Ukraine"
description: "RBC reports that President Vladimir Putin has pardoned one of the men involved in the 2006 killing of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "MEDUZA"
author: "Meduza"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/meduza/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-11-15-putin-pardons-man-involved-in-killing-of-journalist-anna-politkovskaya/"
published: "2023-11-15T13:25:46"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 301
---

# Putin pardons man involved in killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya after fighting in Ukraine

> RBC reports that President Vladimir Putin has pardoned one of the men involved in the 2006 killing of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

By Meduza · Published 15 November 2023, 15:25 SAST

## Key points
- In a shocking twist, one of those convicted in the 2006 murder of Anna Politkovskaya has been pardoned, with her children decrying the move as a "desecration" of their mother's memory.
- Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, convicted of involvement in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, has been pardoned after serving 20 years.
- Khadzhikurbanov has since taken up a command position in the Special Military Operation (SVO) in Ukraine.
- Politkovskaya's children have condemned the pardon as a "desecration" of their mother's memory.
- Six people were given lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in her murder, ranging from 11 years to life.

## Content

Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, who was given a 20-year sentence, [received a pardon](https://www.rbc.ru/politics/14/11/2023/655328dd9a7947657cc23268) for participating in the Special Military Operation (SVO) in Ukraine.

Khadzhikurbanov’s lawyer, Alexey Mikhalchik, told *RBC*:

“Under the first contract Khadzhikurbanov participated in the SVO as a prisoner, was pardoned, and now participates in the SVO as a freelance military man, having concluded a contract with the Defense Ministry. He worked in special forces in the 90s, he has experience, which is probably why he was immediately offered a command position. I believe that in a sense justice has been served, as I believe that he was not involved in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya.”

![People hold photos as they attend a commemoration rally in honour of slain Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, in Moscow, Russia, 07 October 2012. Anna Politkovskaya was killed 07 October 2006 in her building. Russian officials in July 2012 have filed charges against an ex-police officer in the murder of Kremlin critic and journalist Anna Politkovskaya, accusing a former lieutenant colonel of organizing the 07 October 2006 murder of Politkovskaya by providing the weapon among other things. (Photo: EPA/MAXIM SHIPENKOV)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/MwFlWsmUNKh9iLX4ZpNKQO23wsM=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Anna-Politkovskaya-Inset.jpg)

*People attend a commemoration rally in honour of slain Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow on 7 October 2012. Politkovskaya was killed 7 October 2006 in her building. (Photo: EPA / Maxim Shipenkov)*

Politkovskaya’s daughter and son told the newspaper *Novaya Gazeta* that Khadzhikurbanov’s pardon is a “desecration” of their mother’s memory. In a [joint statement](https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2023/11/14/eto-pomilovanie-ne-svidetelstvo-iskupleniia-viny-a-fakt-chudovishchnoi-nespravedlivosti-i-proizvola), Vera and Ilya said they were never told that one of the men responsible for their mother’s murder has received a presidential pardon. “Seeking justice is pointless. They’ve thrown justice in solitary confinement for discrediting the authorities,” said Politkovskaya’s children.

**Read more in Daily Maverick:**[War in Ukraine](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/war-in-ukraine/)

Anna Politkovskaya was [killed](https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/07/statute-of-limitations-expires-in-anna-politkovskaya-murder-case) in the entrance of her Moscow apartment building on 7 October 2006. Six people were given lengthy prison sentences for their involvement in her murder, ranging from 11 years to life.

Life sentences were handed to Chechen gangster Lom-Ali Gaitukaev, who was convicted of organising the killing, and his nephew Rustam Makhmudov. Gaitukaev [died](https://meduza.io/news/2017/06/13/organizator-ubiystva-politkovskoy-umer-v-kolonii) in prison in June 2017. Three other people, including Khadzhikurbanov, who acted as middlemen in organising the crime, received between 14 and 20 years in prison. **DM**

*First published by*[Meduza](https://meduza.io/en/news/2023/11/14/putin-pardons-man-involved-in-killing-of-journalist-anna-politkovskaya-for-fighting-in-ukraine?utm_source=email&utm_medium=briefly&utm_campaign=2023-11-15)