MOSCOW, October 23 - RAPSI. A criminal case against Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov, who has been accused of killing Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya, has been submitted to the prosecutor's office for the indictment's approval, Investigative Committee official spokesperson Vladimir Markin told journalists on Tuesday.

Politkovskaya, who was known for her investigative journalism on human rights in Chechnya, was killed in the elevator of her apartment building on October 7, 2006 in Moscow.

Investigators believe her murder was related to her work.

Six people are suspected of having been involved in her murder - former police officers Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov and Sergei Kadzhikurbanov, Chechen-born Lom-Ali Gaitukayev, and the Makhmudov brothers, one of whom is alleged to have been the killer.

The case against Pavlyuchekov has been granted special circumstance status in view of his plea bargain. The special procedure ensures a trial without reviewing the evidence or holding witness testimonies. The court cannot sentence the defendant to the maximum punishment.

Pavlyuchenkov's house arrest will last until November.