Moscow  - Russian law enforcement has re-arrested a man who had only recently been cleared of charges in the 2006 murder of journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

The suspect, who previously worked in a Moscow agency fighting organized crime, has been charged with blackmailing a witness, reported the Interfax news agency on Thursday, citing sources in the investigation.

The suspect is one of four people who was released in February after a trial found insufficient evidence against him in the case. He is now charged with blackmailing one of the most important witnesses in the case to the tune of 50,000 dollars.

The arrest reopens the investigation into the murder of Politkovskaya, who was shot in front of her apartment. Politkovskaya had frequently riled Russian authorities with her work, which was often critical of Russian policy. (dpa)