MOSCOW. Oct 3 (Interfax-AVN) - The criminal case opened into the murder of Novaya Gazeta columnist Anna Politkovskaya has been transferred to the Moscow district military court.
"The case has been handed over to the Moscow district military court," Murad Musayev, a lawyer for one of the defendants, told Interfax.
A ruling has been issued in favor of a petition requesting a jury trial in the case, he said, adding that a request seeking permission to invite additional witnesses has been granted partially.
"This is a political case. There is absolutely no hope without a jury," Musayev said.
The crime cannot be considered as solved, "although there is a report claiming that it has been solved," the lawyer said. "The case forwarded to the court involves two drivers and one mediator. How can one call it a solved case if those who ordered, organized and perpetrated [the crime] are not present," he said.
Col. Pavel Ryaguzov is not a defendant in the Politkovskaya murder case, but his name is mentioned in other episodes, the lawyer said.
Asked whether the trial will take place behind closed doors or not, Musayev said that "it is difficult to say now how this case will be heard."
According to the law, a military court is appointed to hear a criminal case if there is a serviceman among the suspects. If there is a petition requesting a jury trial, a case is heard by a court of a constituent of the Russian Federation.
Politkovskaya was shot dead at the entrance hall of her apartment building in Moscow on October 7, 2006.