Russia
Politkovskaya trial closed to publicPosted Dec 17 2008
The trial for three men accused of involvement in the killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya began Nov. 19, but despite assurances to the contrary, the court remained closed to the media and the public. The decision by Judge Yevheny Zubov reverses his promise to keep the trial open two days earlier. Jurors, who were selected the previous day, refused to enter the courtroom while cameras and journalists were inside, due to safety concerns, according to the International Herald Tribune.
Preliminary hearings began Oct. 15. The attorney representing Politkovskaya’s family was absent having suffered from mercury poisoning earlier in the week.