Thousands of people marching through Moscow to honour Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov have reportedly been forbidden from crossing the bridge where he was murdered.
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Roughly 20,000 people marched through the center of Moscow on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the killing of Boris Nemtsov.
Nemtsov, who had been a prime minister during Boris Yeltsin’s presidency, was a charismatic figure and a vehement critic of President Vladimir Putin.
“I’m here because a year ago we lost a great and fearless man who fought for his ideals”, said Tatiana Smirnova, a young demonstrator.
Moscow police, which are often accused of downplaying the popularity of opposition events, said 7,500 showed up.
“Putin, whose rule has seen the steady suppression of independent media and opposition parties since he came to power in 2000, branded the killing a “provocation” and promised an all-out effort to catch the killers”.
The suspected triggerman was an officer in the security forces of Kremlin-backed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
Russian authorities permitted the opposition to hold the march through the city center, but refused to allow a memorial march or a permanent marker at the bridge.
Tens of thousands of mourners remembered Nemtsov on Saturday by holding a ceremonial march near the scene of his death.
In Ottawa, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said Canada remembers Nemtsov’s sacrifice and unwavering commitment to building a better future for Russians.
Many are expected to visit the informal memorial site there after the march, whose turnout may gauge the relative strength of Russia’s opposition, which is beleaguered by official strictures and harassment and almost ignored by state-controlled television.
“Canada stands with its worldwide partners in resolute support for human rights and accountable governance around the globe”.
The complaint said that Kadyrov personally knew the suspects in the Nemtsov murder case, Zaur Dadayev and also Beslan Shavanov, who blew himself up during the detention in Grozny. But opposition leaders have criticized the Kremlin for failing to track down those who ordered the murder.
Earlier this week, opposition leader Ilya Yashin released a report accusing Mr Kadyrov of involvement in Mr Nemtsov’s killing, and demanded his resignation. At the same time, he tried to secure his position by taking a posture of obedience.
“The nation’s leadership needs to find another person so that my name isn’t used against my people”, Mr. Kadyrov said in televised remarks.
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Mr. Kara-Murza and Mr. Gudkov were both skeptical of the announcement, saying they expect Mr. Kadyrov – a protégé of Mr. Putin’s, who controls a private militia recently estimated to number 30,000 men – will continue to wield wide influence in both Chechnya and Russian Federation.
