Russian journalist's killers get life sentences

London, June 9: A duo who killed a Russian journalist in 2006 was given life sentences by a court in Moscow, media reported Monday.

Anna Politkovskaya, 48, was a journalist and a human rights activist. She was well known for her opposition to the Second Chechen War and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Her investigations and articles were published in Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, BBC reported.

Politkovskaya was shot dead Oct 7, 2006, in the elevator of her apartment block in central Moscow. Her death was surrounded by various controversies, including the fact that it might be contract killing. It sparked international outrage.

The two men were among the five who were convicted of the crime last month.

Rustam Makhmudov has been found guilty of shooting her while his uncle Lom-Ali Gaitukayev was held guilty of organising the murder.

The other three convicts, two of whom are Makhmudov's brothers, were given separate sentences of 12 and 20 years.

IANS