MOSCOW, October 17 - RAPSI. The Investigative Committee has found no grounds for the annulment of the plea bargain with Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, who has been charged with involvement in the murder of Anna Politkovskaya, the late journalist's family lawyer Anna Stavitskaya told RAPSI on Wednesday.

Politkovskaya's children hold that Pavlyuchenkov has not fulfilled the obligations that he assumed under the plea bargain, and should stand trial with the other defendants. In their application to the committee, they insisted on an open trial attended by the public and the media.

They stated that they do not doubt Pavlyuchenkov's testimony about his alleged accomplice's role in the murder, as there is other evidence to support his allegations. However, they believe that he is trying to play down his own role to escape severe punishment. The case against Pavlyuchekov was granted a special procedure status when he entered into a plea bargain. The special procedure ensures a trial without reviewing the evidence or having witness testimonies. The court cannot sentence the defendant to the maximum punishment for the crime.

October 7 was the sixth anniversary of Politkovskaya's death. She was killed in the elevator of her Moscow apartment building. She was known for her investigations into human rights abuses in Chechnya. Investigators believe her murder was connected to her professional activity.