Putin about Politkovskaya: “Her influence on politics in Russia was minimal”

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“Whoever it did and on whatever reason, the crime should punished,” Vladimir Putin is quoted as saying on murder of Anna Politkovskaya at a news conference in Dresden on October 10.

This is Putin’s first statement on murder of Politkovskaya since last Saturday, when she was shot dead at the entrance to her apartment building in Moscow. Earlier, the Russian president had a phone conversation with US President George Bush.

As the Russian president is quoted as saying, it was murder of “a human, woman, mother was directed against our country, against the current authorities and Russia in general, and Chechen republic, by which the reporter was professionally occupied.” At the same time, Putin noted that “Politkovskaya’s influence on politics in Russia was minimal,” Ekho Moskvy reports.

Farwell ceremony with slain reporter of Novaya Gazeta Anna Politkovskaya was held today at Troekurovo Cemetery in Moscow. CNN (USA) was broadcasting the ceremony live; several thousand people participated in the ceremony. The subject of Politkovskaya’s murder has been the main subject of discussion in the Russian internet for the fifth day.