Four charged in Russian journo's slaying

MOSCOW, June 18 (UPI) -- Russian authorities say four men, including a federal policeman, have been charged in the 2006 slaying of journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

The investigation committee of the Russian Prosecutor General's office said Wednesday that three of the men were charged with murder and a fourth, Federal Security Service Col. Pavel Ryaguzov, was charged with official misconduct by supplying the alleged killers with Politkovskaya's address, RIA Novesti reported Wednesday.

Politkovskaya, who frequently wrote articles critical of reported human rights abuses perpetrated by Russians in Chechnya, was shot down in the doorway of her apartment building in October 2006.

Authorities said another Russian official accused of aiding in the slaying -- the former head of Chechnya's Achkhoi-Martain district -- wasn't charged due to lack of evidence.

The man police believe carried out the shooting is at large and a separate investigation has been launched to find him, RIA Novosti said.