Politkovskaya trial as a test for Russian judiciary

The murder trial of Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian journalist killed in October 2006, has begun in Moscow. The Times writes that President Dmitry Medvedev now has the chance to show that the Russian judiciary really is independent: "Mr Medvedev, a lawyer by training, now has an opportunity to make good his pledge to boost respect for the law. Like his predecessor, he maintains a pretence that the judiciary is independent of the Kremlin. But this does not mean that he should withhold comment on this case. On the contrary, he should make a public statement supporting the decision to open the Politkovskaya trial to the media. He should advocate long-term protection for its participants at taxpayers' expense if they request it. ... Creating genuine independence for the judiciary from the other branches of Russia's government is the single toughest challenge facing its outnumbered reformers. ... Politkovskaya deserves justice, and her country needs it."

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