Judge Yevgeny Zubov had adjourned the case Thursday for 10 days. He cited a defense lawyer's scheduling conflicts even though the lawyer said there were none.

On Monday court spokesman Alexander Minchanovsky said the trial would resume Tuesday and the jurors were called back early to discuss a string of procedural issues. He refused to elaborate.

Zubov had originally opened the trial to the public but reversed the decision last week.

Politkovskaya embarrassed the Kremlin with her reporting on human rights abuses in Chechnya. Her killing in 2006 caused international outrage.