Murdered Kremlin critic: Thousands of Russians remember Boris Nemtsov

Murdered Kremlin critic
Thousands of Russians remember Boris Nemtsov

It has been six years since the Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was shot in the street. In addition to supporters of the Kremlin critic, foreign diplomats in Moscow also remember the crime. At the same time, they are demanding the immediate release of another Putin opponent: Alexei Navalny.

In Moscow, thousands of people thought of the opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was murdered six years ago. Since the early hours of the morning, numerous Russians and Western diplomats had been searching for the scene of the attack on a bridge near the Kremlin where Nemtsov was shot on February 27, 2015, and laying flowers. Nemtsov was one of the most vocal critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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(Photo: dpa)

"We come together here every year on this day to show the authorities that we have not and will not be forgotten," said former prime minister and opposition politician Mikhail Kasyanov in front of journalists. He was certain that "what Boris fought for – freedom for the Russians, their well-being and a life in dignity – will come soon," he added.

While a memorial march had taken place in the center of Moscow in recent years, this year the opposition moved to the crime scene, where an improvised memorial is repeatedly being destroyed by the authorities. Demonstrations are currently banned due to the corona pandemic. According to the non-governmental organization White Counter, which reports the number of participants in demonstrations, around 3700 people had visited the attack site by 3 p.m. local time.

Blinking "deeply concerned"

Among the Western representatives who commemorated Nemtsov were the ambassadors of the USA, Great Britain and the EU. US Ambassador John Sullivan recalled the "brutal murder" of Nemtsov, said embassy spokeswoman Rebecca Ross on Twitter. "He remains an inspiration to many who strive for justice, transparency, freedom," she said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also remembered the murdered Putin critic. In a statement, Blinken said it was "deeply concerned" by the Russian government's increasing restrictions on freedom of speech. "While we commemorate Nemtsov, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms," said Blinken. Nemtsov devoted his life to building a "free and democratic Russia," continued the US Secretary of State.

"Those who speak their minds in Russia in order to defend their freedoms and democracy are still being targeted for attacks or assassinations," criticized Blinken. "The Russian people deserve better."

"He spoke the truth"

Russia's most prominent opposition activist at the time, Nemtsov, was shot dead near the Kremlin on February 27, 2015, shortly before midnight. In 2017, a former Chechen officer was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder, and four other men were found guilty of complicity in murder. However, Nemtsov's family and followers accuse the Russian authorities of failing to bring the masterminds to account to this day.

"He spoke the truth, and that's why people in our country are killed," said 44-year-old lawyer Irina Drozdova, before she laid flowers at the memorial for Nemtsov.

Meanwhile, a foundation named after Nemtsov honored the imprisoned Kremlin opponent Alexej Navalny for his moral courage. The 44-year-old will receive the Nemtsov Prize this year for his courage in defending democratic values ​​in Russia.

Navalny as a "symbol of resistance"

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(Photo: dpa)

The foundation was brought into being by Nemtsov's daughter Shanna Nemzowa in Bonn and annually commemorates the death of the politician with the award. The "authoritarian regime" in Russia is becoming more and more aggressive, Putin will cling to power until the end, said Nemtsova in an interview with the Russian portal "snob.ru". Your foundation regards this year's winner Navalny as a "symbol of resistance against tyranny in the world." Nemtsova added: "Alexei Navalny has not only shown incredible personal courage, but also made an enormous contribution to the exposure of corruption (…)." He must be released immediately.

Navalny had been taken to a prison camp in the past few days. He had been sentenced to more than two years in prison for allegedly violating his probation requirements. The decision was strongly condemned internationally and sparked mass protests in Russia.

Navalny was treated in hospital in Germany after a poison attack in August for which he blames the Kremlin. He was arrested immediately after returning to Russia in January. His supporters criticize the judiciary's actions against him as politically motivated.

. (tagsToTranslate) Politics (t) Russia (t) Alexej Navalny (t) Boris Nemtsov (t) Kremlin (t) Vladimir Putin