Boris Nemtsov, Prominant Putin Critic, Assassinated Near The Kremlin

BBC: Russia opposition politician Boris Nemtsov shot dead

A leading Russian opposition politician, former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, has been shot dead in Moscow, Russian officials say.

An unidentified attacker in a car shot Mr Nemtsov four times in the back as he crossed a bridge in view of the Kremlin, police say.

He died hours after appealing for support for a march on Sunday in Moscow against the war in Ukraine.

WNU Editor: Many in the Western press are calling him the Russian opposition leader .... this is incorrect .... Gennady Zyuganov head of the Communist Party came in second in the last Presidential election , and he is regarded by many to be the "unofficial" leader of the opposition. But it is true that Boris Nemtsov was a prominent and vocal Putin critic, and while he may not have held an elected position for years, his supporters and the attention that the Russian media gave him over the years did succeed in putting him in the spotlight. As to who killed him .... I do not know. It was my cousin in Moscow who called to tell me that he was assassinated .... and when I heard the news I said to myself that the authorities who are going to investigate his murder are going to find that they have a long list of possible suspects. Over the years he made a lot of people angry ... especially his exposes on corruption .... but who knows .... it could have been a personal matter that got him killed. I will admit that later I started to speculate that maybe a pro-Russian separatist wanted to silence him because of his opposition to Russia' participation in the Ukraine war, and then a part of me was wondering if this was maybe a false-flag operation instituted by the someone in Kiev who wanted to embarrass Putin and to put the blame on the separatists. Each and everyone of these "theories" have their supporters and critics .... and I am sure that this debate is going to go on for the next weeks. As to the theory that Putin or someone in his inner circle ordered the hit .... I really doubt that. You would only create a martyr, and on top of that Boris Nemtsov was in no position to be a threat to Putin .... he was a minor politician who suffered numerous electoral defeats since the 1990s. But it is also true that Boris Nemtsov did expose some of the corruption that has flourished under Putin .... and because of that he may have made some enemies who got their revenge today.

But there is one thing about this case that is bothering me .... Boris Nemtsov was murdered within sight of St. Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin .... this is within the security perimeter of the Kremlin. Security within Moscow is incredibly intense .... but more so within sight of the Kremlin.You just do not kill somebody and be able to drive away .... but on the possibility that this is exactly what happened .... this is then a huge security failure .... or something very deliberate.

On a personal note .... Boris Nemtsov was murdered at 11:30 PM walking with a female friend (Ukrainian model Anna Duritskaya, 23) crossing the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky bridge ... I have done that same walk many times in the past ... and yes ... with a female friend. Across the bridge there are a number of late night cafes and bars .... I can easily see them walking over there to end the night.

More News On The Murder Of Boris Nemtsov

Russian opposition leader Nemtsov shot dead in Moscow -- Reuters
Boris Nemtsov, outspoken Putin critic, shot dead in Moscow -- CNN
Russian Opposition Member Boris Nemtsov Was Killed in Moscow -- Bloomberg
'Nemtsov was an outspoken critic of Russia's involvement in Ukraine' -- Deutsche Welle
Boris Nemtsov, leading Putin critic, shot and killed in Moscow -- FOX News
Murdered Putin critic Boris Nemtsov did not pose any threat: Kremlin -- IBtimes
Several Cars Checked After Drive-By Murder of Boris Nemtsov - Source -- Sputnik
Funeral March to Replace Moscow Opposition Rally After Nemtsov Murder -- Sputnik
Nemtsov was no threat to Russian govt - presidential spokesperson -- RT
Boris Nemtsov: Who was the Russian opposition leader? -- ABC News (Australia)
Profile: Boris Nemtsov -- BBC
Russia robbed of a brave, authentic and distinctive voice -- Luke Harding, The Guardian
Boris Nemtsov Exposed Putin's Corruption—And Paid With His Life -- Michael Weiss, Daily Beast

Update: This is a good summary .... Who is Mr. Nemtsov and Why He Was Killed (Sputnik).