MOSCOW, February 5 - RAPSI. A suspect charged with murdering human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya has asked for a jury trial, his attorney Darya Trenina told RAPSI on Tuesday.

Her client Rustam Makhmudov finished studying the case materials two months ago, she said. The other two men charged in the case - former police officer Sergei Khadzhikurbanov and Dzhabrail Makhmudov - have also asked for a jury trial. They will file the relevant applications after studying the case materials.

Makhmudov has been charged in the case with murder, illegal arms trafficking, leaving a person in danger, and obstructing the right to freedom of conscience and religious worship.

Earlier, the Moscow City Court extended Khadzhikurbanov's arrest until March 7. The investigation into Politkovsksya's death has also been extended until March 7.

Politkovskaya, a political commentator with Novaya Gazeta, was shot dead in her apartment building on October 7, 2006. Her murder is linked by some experts to her coverage of human rights abuses in Chechnya. She was also a critic of the Kremlin.

Khadzhikurbanov was earlier sentenced to eight years in prison for extorting money from former police officer Dmitry Pavlyuchenkov. On December 14, Pavlyuchenkov was found guilty of involvement in the murder and sentenced to 11 years in prison. In total, six people are suspected of involvement in the murder. Lom-Ali Gaitukayev is accused of having organized the murder and of hiring three relatives to help him - the brothers Rustam, Ibragim and Dzhabrail Makhmudov, as well as Khadzhikurbanov.