Politkovskaya's son fears politics could hurt case

By Chris Baldwin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The son of murdered Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya has welcomed news of arrests in her case but expressed concern that political grandstanding by officials could harm chances of a conviction.

Russian Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika announced on Monday that 10 people had been arrested in connection with the murder of Politkovskaya, a fierce Kremlin critic whose killing brought a wave of international condemnation.

People close to the journalist have said they are worried the announcement was rushed out to help Chaika fight a power struggle inside his organization, and that making details public so soon could jeopardize a trial.

"I think these are political games," said Ilya Politkovsky, 29, speaking to Reuters late on Wednesday, the eve of what would have been his mother's 49th birthday.

"Prosecutor-General Chaika understands the value of this information for the public at large.

"The team of investigators on this case did exceptionally professional work, up through August 27. But the grandiose announcements by Chaika and the FSB (Federal Security Service) are being used for other political reasons," Politkovsky said.

Politkovskaya, who wrote scathing reports on the Kremlin's operations in Chechnya, was shot as she got into the elevator of her apartment building on October 7 last year. Kremlin critics said the murder showed press freedom was in danger in Russia.

CAST-IRON ALIBI

There were indications on Thursday that the prosecutors' case against the suspects may not be as watertight as they had initially said.

Kommersant newspaper reported that one suspect had been released while another had a cast-iron alibi -- he was in prison on the day of her murder. That report could not immediately be confirmed.

Politkovsky said Chaika may have chosen the timing of the arrest announcement because of a major reorganization of his office. An investigation committee has been created which will take over some of Chaika's power and many of his investigators.

"I think this is all because of a big turnover in the Prosecutor-General's office, when the investigation committee is set to meet and a new boss will come aboard," he said.

Chaika said on Monday the group suspected of killing Politkovskaya was led by an ethnic Chechen organized crime boss and included serving and former law enforcement officers.

He also said the group was involved in other high-profile assassinations, including the 2004 shooting in Moscow of U.S. journalist Paul Klebnikov.

But he said Politkovskaya's murder was masterminded by unnamed anti-Kremlin forces living in exile abroad -- a clear swipe at fugitive Russian tycoons long accused by Moscow of trying to destabilize the country.

Politkovsky said his mother's colleagues and friends would take part later on Thursday in a candlelight procession to lay flowers at her apartment to commemorate her birthday.