CPJ to Putin: World is watching Politkovskaya case

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Committee to Protect Journalists told Russian President Vladimir Putin the world is still watching the investigation into the death of a journalist and raised concerns that the probe was infused with politics.

The watchdog group wrote to Putin on Thursday, three days ahead of the anniversary of the murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, an outspoken Putin critic who was shot dead in her apartment building.

The contract-style shooting led to international condemnation, with critics accusing the Kremlin of failing to protect freedom of speech.

"In Russia and across the world, leaders and citizens expect an investigation that is diligent, transparent, and free of political influence. Thus far, the signals have not been encouraging," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon wrote to Putin.

The letter was also sent to a host of international agencies, human rights groups and U.S. and Russian officials.

The committee asked Putin why the investigation has been so secretive -- the names of many of the detained have not been released -- and questioned why a prosecutor whose work on the case was praised by Politkovskaya's family was demoted.

The letter asked why Russian officials had played down domestic leads and promoted a theory that she was murdered by foreign enemies seeking to destabilize Russia.

Authorities arrested 11 people in August and Prosecutor-General Yuri Chaika suspected Politkovskaya was killed by an organized crime group that included serving and former law enforcement officers.

But CPJ said Chaika did not name the suspects, did not explain their alleged roles and cited no evidence to back his assertion that the killing was masterminded by overseas foes.

Prosecutors have said Politkovskaya's murder was probably linked to her reporting. She was active in exposing abuses by security forces in Chechnya and neighboring Russian regions.

"A successful prosecution would demonstrate your government's commitment to reversing Russia's record of impunity in journalist murders and to protecting Russia's press corps -- a pledge you made during your annual news conference at the Kremlin on February 1," Simon wrote to Putin.