MOSCOW, October 7 (RIA Novosti) - Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya was murdered in central Moscow, and a Makarov pistol and four cases were discovered at the scene, the city prosecutors said Saturday.

Vitaly Tretyakov, a Public Chamber member and chief editor of Moskovskie Novosti newspaper, said the murder was connected with the professional activity of Politkovskaya, who was known for articles criticizing Russian authorities' actions in Chechnya.

"It's clear that the first and only version everyone can think about is the one connected with professional activity," he said.

Prosecutors said an unknown person clad in black opened fire on Politkovskaya at 17.15 Moscow time (1:15 p.m. GMT).

The chief prosecutor of Moscow, Yury Syomin, and Deputy Prosecutor General Viktor Grin have left for the crime scene.

An investigation is underway.