Just over one year ago, shortly before midnight on February 27th, 2015, Boris Nemtsov, a Russian opposition politician and former deputy prime minister, was assassinated as he walked across a bridge in central Moscow. He was shot in the back four times at point blank range, by gunmen driving by in a vehicle.
Boris Nemtsov, a nuclear physicist by training, worked for a more democratic and prosperous Russia throughout his life, including during service as Deputy Prime Minister.
Mr. Nemtsov was murdered two days before he was to participate in a peace rally against Russian involvement in Ukraine. He vehemently objected to Russia’s interference in Ukraine’s politics, and later, to the military intervention there.
Russian authorities arrested 5 individuals for the murder and have declared the investigation to be completed.
The United States calls on the Russian government to ensure that all those responsible for his killing are brought to justice.
One year after his murder, we remain deeply troubled by the Russian government’s growing intolerance of all forms of dissent and independent expression. As we honor the memory of Boris Nemtsov’s life and work, we renew our call on the Government of Russia to uphold its obligations to the Russian people and the international community to promote and protect universal human rights, including the fundamental freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
