The Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov who was shot dead on the night of February 28 will be buried at the Troekurovskoe cemetery in Moscow on March 3. This was told to TASS by the member of the Bureau of the Federal Political Council of the “RPR-Parnas” party Konstantin Merzlikin.
“A civil memorial service will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. MSK in the Sakharov Centre, then the funeral will be held at the Troekurovskoe cemetery” - he noted.
A funeral march in memory of the opposition leader Nemtsov will be held in the centre of Moscow on March, 1. The event was coordinated with the capital Mayor’s Office and will begin at 3 p.m. at the “Kitai-Forod” metro station. About 200 people gathered at the place of murder of the opposition leader on February 28. A portrait of the killed is installed there, people bring flowers to it. It is noted that the bouquets were brought, among others, by one of the founders of the “Yabloko” party Grigory Yavlinsky, the former co-chairman of the “Union of Right Forces” Irina Khakamada, and the Head of “RUSNANO” Anatoly Chubais, as RIA Novosti reported. It is reported that the advocacy of the opposition leader Aleksei Navalny who is currently staying 15 days in jail are preparing a petition asking to let him visit the funeral of Nemtsov. The question of temporary release of the blogger will be considered by the Presnensky Court not earlier than on Monday, March 2.
The 55-year-old Boris Nemtsov was killed in the centre of Moscow on the night of February 28. Unknown persons riding in a white car shot him in the back at least six times while he was walking through Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge with his friend. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation opened a criminal case by the articles “Murder” and “Illegal arms trafficking”.
The investigation is considering several versions of the event. In particular, the murder could be a provocation for destabilization of the political situation in Russia. The “version associated with the Islamic extremist trace” is also considered: Nemtsov “was threatened in connection with his position regarding the shooting of the journalists of the magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris”. In addition, the crime could be related to the inner conflict in Ukraine, as well as commercial activities of Nemtsov or someone’s personal dislike towards him.
Author: Anna Dorozhkina