Russians doubt perpetrators of Politkovskaya murder will be tracked down – poll

(Interfax – MOSCOW, October 7, 2013) Forty-seven percent of Russians polled in September still have queries about who could benefit from the killing of Novaya Gazeta reporter Anna Politkovskaya seven years ago.

Fifteen percent of respondents said the opposition forces, “interested in destabilization” could have been behind the killing, according to Levada Center pollster, and 12% said “Ramzan Kadyrov” and his associates could have been.

The poll was held in 45 regions and involved 1,600 respondents.

Eight percent of those surveyed said Russian nationalists could have ordered the murder, 7% said “foreign forces could in order to damage Russia’s reputation,” and 6% said special services may have ordered the murder. Five percent of those questioned said “personal or domestic motives cold have been behind the killing.”

Sixty-two percent of respondents said they doubt that the perpetrators of the killing will be tracked down and tried, compared to 57% in 2011. The percentage of undecided respondents has shrunk from 32% to 21%.

Sixteen percent of respondents hope the murder will be cleared up.

A memorial plaque will be unveiled on October 7, the day marking the anniversary of Politkovskaya’s killing, on a wall of the Novaya Gazeta editorial office.

Politkovskaya was killed in 2006 in the entrance of her apartment building in Moscow. Five suspects stand accused of committing the murder. The organizers have not been established. The Politkovskaya murder case is being heard at the Moscow City Court.