Nine people have so far been arrested in connection with the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, but five have since been released on bail, including Shamil Buraev. In his first TV interview since his releas

Shamil Buraev had links with a man who allegedly gave Politkovskaya’s address to her killer. He explained to RT why, even though he maintains his innocence, he felt he was rightly detained.

“I know that the investigators had every right to suspect me, because I knew all he people detained before. But this happened the month before I was held, so if I had something to fear, something to hide from, I could have disappeared. I had nothing to hide. And the investigators saw that,” he said.

But despite knowing many of those involved, Shamil says he met Politkovskaya just once and only very briefly.

“Unfortunately, and I deeply regret this, I didn’t know Anna Politkovskaya personally, but I always read her articles and listened to her speeches,” he said.

“I have never seen a person as brave as Politkovskaya was, there are no people like her in Russia,” Buraev noted.

“I met her only once in the airport, we exchanges a few words. She called me a fool for wanting to run for Chechen president and said it wasn’t my place. And those words stayed with me, so I removed my candidacy,” he said.

His own family, back in Chechnya, anxiously awaits his return; Buraev has been gone for over nine months.
 
“My family and those who know me were all shocked. I am a respected man and I suddenly get accused in being involved in a murder. It was hardest for my father. He only got out of bed when he heard I had been released,” Buraev said.

But who murdered the internationally acclaimed journalist remains a mystery.

“I think she was murdered for what she did – for her writing, her outspoken criticism, but I don’t know who could have done such a thing. I think investigators need to look very closely to her work, and I can only hope they find the people responsible. From what I have seen it looks possible that they will,” he stressed.

Meantime, the name of the main suspect is still to be released. Officials say the investigation into the murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya will be complete by June 20.

Journalists, human rights activists and politicians alike have campaigned for the case to be brought to court.

Anna Politkovskaya was gunned down outside her Moscow apartment in October 2006.

The apparent contract killing of the journalist, known for fearless and independent reporting, sent shockwaves through Russia and beyond.