(Source: http://rus.delfi.ee)

The group for the murder of the Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was formed in January 2015. This was reported by the “Rosbalt” News Agency referring to the investigation materials on Friday, March 20. According to the investigation, “the group was characterized as stable, having unidentified organizers and distribution of roles, permanent connection between its members, careful planning of the crime, conspiracy measures taken to avoid detection and arrest”. The future victim began to be spied on in February, the surveillance was conducted initially by the three arrested persons who are accused at the moment - Anzor Gubashev, Zaur Dadaev and Beslan Shavanov, as well as “unidentified persons”.

The car ZAZ Sens was purchased specially for the surveillance over the place of residence and movement routes of Nemtsov. The Investigative Committee of Russia (IC of RF) believes that the group was later joined by Tamerlan Ekserkhanov, Khamzat Bakhaev and Shadid Gubashev. Their goals were to provide “information necessary for the murder commission” and “hiding the criminals and ensuring their departure from Moscow and Moscow Oblast” after the murder of Nemtsov. On March 19 the agency reported that Boris Nemtsov was killed because of his public position on the issue of the cartoons in the Charlie Hebdo magazine. Five million roubles were allocated for the operation of the murder of the politician. The assassin was Zaur Dadaev, direct assistance at the time of the murder was rendered to him by Beslan Shavanov and Anzor Gubashev.

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.