U.S. journalist Paul Klebnikov killed because of Chechnya investigations
U.S. journalist Paul Klebnikov may have been killed because he was investigating a series of links between Russian politicians and Chechnya, Izvestia reported Monday.
The newspaper quoted from a letter written by one of the suspects in the killing of Klebnikov, the editor of Forbes` Russian edition, who was shot outside the magazine`s offices in northern Moscow in July 2004.
Fail Sadretdinov, who is accused of killing Klebnikov, wrote that the present investigation into the killing was "improbable."
Sadretdinov said that he had been allowed to see case materials involving the case against him that included a report by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The report, compiled after interviews with Klebnikov`s colleagues and relatives, said that Klebnikov had been working on an investigation that linked a number of Russian politicians to Chechnya, Sadretdinov`s letter said.
Sadretdinov quoted one of those questioned by the FBI as saying, "Although Paul usually kept quiet when there was talk of journalistic investigations, he did tell us not that long ago about one project," the witness said. "He called it `very big and scary.`"
The witness added that Klebnikov said that all his other investigations were small in comparison.
Investigators have said they believed Klebnikov was killed as revenge for a book he wrote about Chechen rebel financier Khozh-Akhmed Nukhayev. The book, "Conversation With a Barbarian," was published in 2003.
Sadretdinov is accused of attempted murder and organizing Klebnikov`s killing.
Two other suspects in the case, Musa Vakhayev and Kazbek Dukkuzov, are accused of involvement in the murder.
Last week, Sadretdinov`s lawyer asked for the case against his client to be suspended while he underwent a psychiatric examination
TheMoscowTimes
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