Brussels, 02/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - Learning with “indignation” and “deep sadness” of the “brutal” murder of Boris Nemtsov, one of the leaders of Russia's liberal opposition, on the evening of Friday 27 February, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini called for “a full, rapid and transparent investigation”. “The EU expects the Russian authorities to conduct a full, rapid and transparent investigation into this assassination, bringing the culprits swiftly to justice”, she said in a press release.
“Boris Nemtsov was a strong advocate for a modern, prosperous and democratic Russian Federation, open to the world”, Mogherini stated.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland said he was “shocked and concerned” by this murder, and he also called on the Russian authorities to do their utmost to bring the murderers to justice. “This political murder is a sign of the climate of hatred and intolerance developing in many parties of Europe today, including in the Russian Federation”, he said. “We must unite our forces to stop this dangerous evolution”, he added.
Several heads of state and government and European foreign affairs ministers have paid tribute to Nemtsov. “Shocked and sickened by the callous murder of Boris Nemtsov”, British Prime Minister David Cameron described it as a “despicable act”. “Boris Nemtsov was a man of courage and conviction. His life was dedicated to speaking up tirelessly for the Russian people, to demanding their right to democracy and liberty under the rule of law, and to an end to corruption (…).The courage of Nemtsov's life contrasts with the utter cowardice of his murder”, Cameron stated. “Boris Nemtsov is dead. But the values he stood for will never die”, Cameron added. France's President François Hollande criticised the “heinous murder” and stated that Nemtsov was a “courageous and untiring campaigner for democracy and a determined fighter against corruption”.
Nemtsov, former Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and former Governor of Nizhny Novgorod, was killed just before a demonstration against the effects of the economic crisis and the conflict in Ukraine, which he was organising for 1 March. The demonstration, which went ahead, became a demonstration of tribute and reportedly gathered 20,000-70,000 people. The French, British and German ambassadors in Moscow went together to gather at the place of the murder of the opposition leader. The EU ambassador to Russia is due to attend Nemtsov's funeral on Tuesday. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)