On the eighth anniversary of Boris Nemtsov’s assassination, the State Department spoke out against the Kremlin’s campaign of repression and in defense of hundreds of Russian political prisoners. The statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlights the courage of the current champions of freedom and democracy in Russia.Recall that Nemtsov, the former First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian government, one of the leaders of the PARNAS party and critic of Vladimir Putin, was killed on February 27, 2015 on a bridge near the Kremlin by several bullets in the back.”Nemtsov … was a man who dedicated his life to improving the lives of his fellow citizens,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement released Monday. “He was fearless and outspoken, and his civic activism continues to inspire other pro-democracy politicians and human rights activists such as Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza.”“As the Kremlin continues to escalate its campaign of repression, Navalny, Kara-Murza and hundreds of other political prisoners remain strong advocates for a freer and more democratic Russia. Today, as we honor the memory of Boris Nemtsov and his legacy, we also celebrate those brave Russians who continue to work in the face of brutal repression for a better future for their country.
