MOSCOW, March 1 - RIA Novosti. The Basmanny District Court in Moscow will hear on March 6 the investigators' appeal to leave in custody Rustam Makhmudov, who is charged with murdering journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

Makhmudov has been accused of murder, illegally trafficking weapons, denying assistance to people in mortal danger and obstructing the right to free consciousness and religious worship.

Press Secretary Yekaterina Korotkova noted that a similar application concerning another suspect, former Interior Ministry officer Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, will be heard in the court on March 5.

According to his defense attorney, Pavlyuchenkov will seek to change his measure of restraint to house arrest and requested state protection for himself andhis family.

Earlier, it was reported that Pavlyuchenkov entered into a plea bargain and told investigators that the murder was ordered by businessman Boris Berezovsky and Chechen separatist Akhmed Zakayev, according to another suspect in the case.

The investigation and the terms of arrest for Pavlyuchenkov and Makhmudov will expire on March 7.

Politkovskaya, who was known for her investigative journalism on human rights offenses in Chechnya, was killed in Moscow on October 7, 2006.

Five people are considered suspects in the case - Pavlyuchenkov, former police officer Sergei Kadzhikurbanov, and the Makhmudov brothers.

Rustam Makhmudov is accused of committing the crime.