From the NYT:

The convoluted trial of three men accused of involvement in the murder of the journalist Anna Politkovskaya took a new twist on Wednesday when a judge decided to bar the media from the proceedings, reversing a decision made two days earlier to open the courtroom to the public.

The judge, Yevgeny Zubov, told the court that jury members had refused to participate in the trial if the media were allowed to attend, said Karinna Moskalenko, a lawyer for the Politkovskaya family. Mr. Zubov said on Monday that he would close the trial if jury members were pressured.

Ms. Moskalenko said the judge had not offered convincing evidence of the need to bar the public for the safety of the jury, adding that she was disappointed, but not surprised, by the ruling.

“I could expect this if there were a threat to the jury,” she said.