MOSCOW, November 27 (RIA Novosti) - The son and daughter of murdered investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya gave evidence in a Moscow military court on Thursday saying that their mother regularly received threats over the articles she wrote.
Politkovskaya, who gained international recognition for her criticism of the Kremlin and reports of military atrocities against civilians in the troubled Caucasus republic of Chechnya, was gunned down in an elevator in her Moscow apartment building in October 2006, in what police described as a contract killing.
Politkovskaya's son Ilya said that the "threats were received regularly" over a five year period prior to his mother's murder.
Asked whether Politkovskaya ever said she was concerned for her life, Ilya said "usually mother tried to protect us from such information."
Vera Politkovskaya, the daughter of the slain journalist, said that her mother warned her on several occasions to be careful as she had noticed strange people in the entrance lobby of their apartment building.
"She said they were not alcoholics as they did not smell of alcohol, but were very strange," Vera said.
She also said the apartment intercom was repeatedly broken before the tragedy.
The prosecution presented surveillance camera footage showing Politkovskaya entering the house on the day of her death, and then a man in dark clothes and a baseball cap leaving. According to the recording, the crime was committed within 24 seconds.
Politkovskaya was found lying dead in an elevator with a bag of groceries beside her and with the keys to her apartment in her hand. The killer shot her five times and threw his firearm into the elevator.
After hearing evidence given by Politkovskaya's son and daughter the court announced a recess until December 1.
Three men, a former police officer and two brothers from Chechnya, have been charged with involvement in the murder. Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, and Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudov have been in custody since last August. Investigators have provided no details as to their alleged roles in the crime.
The man suspected of pulling the trigger, Rustam Makhmudov - the eldest of the three Makhmudov brothers - remains at large. A separate case has been launched against him.
A former Federal Security Service (FSB) officer, Colonel Pavel Ryaguzov, has also been charged with abuse of office after allegedly telling the killers where Politkovskaya lived.
