Who Killed Nemtsov? New evidence on Russia’s most shocking assassination - BBC News

BBC News12 minutes read

Boris Nemtsov, a vocal critic of Putin, was assassinated near the Kremlin in 2015, with evidence pointing to FSB agent Valeri Sukharev's involvement in tracking him. The FSB's surveillance tactics extended to other Putin critics like Vladimir Kara-Murza and Alexei Navalny, showcasing the state's harsh measures against dissent.

Insights

  • Boris Nemtsov, a vocal critic of Putin, was assassinated near the Kremlin in 2015, with evidence pointing to FSB agent Valeri Sukharev's involvement in tracking him before the murder, raising suspicions of state-sanctioned assassination.
  • The targeting of Nemtsov, along with other Putin critics like Vladimir Kara-Murza and Alexei Navalny, through surveillance and poisoning attempts by the FSB, underscores the regime's brutal tactics to silence dissent, despite Nemtsov's enduring legacy inspiring opposition against Putin's authoritarian rule in Russia.

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Recent questions

  • Who was Boris Nemtsov?

    A Russian politician critical of Putin.

  • What evidence links Nemtsov's assassination to the FSB?

    Surveillance patterns and tracking to Nemtsov's movements.

  • What tactics did the FSB use against Putin's critics?

    Assassination attempts and poisoning.

  • How did Nemtsov's assassination impact Russian opposition?

    Sparked fear and crackdown on dissent.

  • What is the legacy of Boris Nemtsov in Russia?

    Inspiring commitment to democratic values.

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Summary

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Assassination of Putin critic Boris Nemtsov

  • Boris Nemtsov, a Russian politician critical of Putin, was assassinated on a bridge near the Kremlin in February 2015.
  • Questions persist about the mastermind behind Nemtsov's killing, with new evidence revealing a Russian agent linked to a secret assassination squad tracking Nemtsov.
  • Nemtsov, once a prominent politician, became Putin's vocal critic, denouncing corruption and abuses of power.
  • Nemtsov's movements were shadowed by FSB agent Valeri Sukharev in the year leading up to his murder, with a clear pattern of surveillance emerging.
  • Sukharev, along with another FSB operative, tracked Nemtsov to Novosibirsk just before his assassination, raising suspicions of their involvement.
  • The Magistral database facilitated the FSB agents in tailing Nemtsov by providing precise information on his travel plans.
  • Sukharev, a high-ranking FSB agent, has been linked to at least two apparent assassination attempts on Putin's critics, including Nemtsov.
  • Nemtsov's friend and protege, Vladimir Kara-Murza, was also targeted by the FSB, surviving two poisoning attempts.
  • Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, another target of the FSB, was poisoned with a nerve agent, highlighting the state's ruthless tactics against dissent.
  • Despite the fear and propaganda, Nemtsov's legacy and the values he stood for continue to resonate in Russia, even amidst Putin's crackdown on opposition.
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