A Russian court charges two men with the murder of opposition activist Boris Nemtsov, including an ex-police officer from Chechnya who confesses to his involvement in the brazen assassination.
Five suspects appear in a court in central Moscow a little over a week after Nemtsov, a longtime critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot four times in the back as he strolled with his girlfriend along a bridge in view of the Kremlin.
Court spokeswoman Anna Fadeyeva tells the RIA Novosti news agency that three of the men who were not charged were only considered suspects at this stage. All five are remanded in custody.
Anzor Gubashev, charged with the murder of Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, is escorted by a policeman at the Basmanny district court in Moscow, on March 8, 2015. (photo credit: AFP PHOTO / DMITRY SEREBRYAKOV)
Zaur Dadayev, a former deputy commander for the Chechen police, and Anzor Gubashev, who worked for a private security company in Moscow, were arrested on Saturday in the republic of Ingushetia, which neighbours Chechnya.
They are both charged with murder but Gubashev denied involvement.
“The participation of Dadayev is confirmed by his confession,” says presiding judge Nataliya Mushnikova.
However, no information has emerged as to the possible motive the men could have had in killing the charismatic opposition leader.
His allies believe his assassination was a hit ordered by the top levels of government determined to silence dissenters. The allegation has been strenuously denied.
— AFP
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