Moscow, 28 March: The information that investigators have identified the murderer of Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya and have put him on the wanted list is not new, but is needed as a justification for keeping one of the suspects in custody, Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Dmitriy Muratov told RIA Novosti on Friday (28 March).

"Actually, there is nothing new about it, because as early as 6 October last year head of the investigative group Petr Garibyan officially made the same statement to Novaya Gazeta," Muratov said, commenting on the statement made by a representative of the Prosecutor-General's Office Vyacheslav Smirnov that the investigation is looking for the person who directly carried out Politkovskaya's murder. (Passage omitted)

"This information has resurfaced because they needed to extend the term in custody of one of those detained on suspicion of involvement in Politkovskaya's murder, Pavel Ryaguzov, a lieutenant colonel of the FSB (Federal Security Service) directorate in Moscow and Moscow Region.

"The justification for keeping him in custody was that in order to establish the murderer and search for him, it was necessary for Ryaguzov to remain in custody," the Novaya Gazeta chief editor said. (Passage omitted)