Was The Kremlin Behind Boris Nemtsov’s Murder?

Supporters of democracy and free-market capitalism in Russia suffered a tragic loss February 27^th with the murder of the prominent dissident Boris Nemtsov. Nemtsov, the co-chair of the Republican Party of Russia – PARNAS and former Russian Deputy Prime Minister, was shot four times in the back mere hours before making critical comments about President Putin’s actions in the Ukraine and before leading a planned rally in opposition to Putin’s involvement in the Ukraine crisis and economic policies.

The timing of the murder has raised many questions about who was responsible for the killing. Oft postulated by Nemtsov’s colleagues and supporters is the theory that Vladimir Putin and the FSB were responsible for carrying out an assassination of Nemtsov. There is plenty of evidence to support such a claim; the past alleged executions of Putin’s political opponents, and the fact that the surveillance cameras watching the area where Nemtsov was killed happened to be deactivated during the shooting, allegedly for repairs. In Nemtsov’s last interview, he stated that his mother feared that Vladimir Putin would attempt to assassinate him.

Official reports from the Kremlin state that the murder was “absolutely a provocation.” Theories among Russian media about the identity and allegiance of the shooter range from Islamist assassins to agents in the employ of Ukrainian nationalist movement Pravyj Sektor. Of course, some Russian media outlets are suggesting a connection with the CIA. Most interesting is the appointing of investigator Igor Krasnov to the case, who had previously investigated cases involving radical nationalists. Perhaps Putin plans to pin the murder on formerly close ultra-nationalist allies.

But many observers elsewhere suspect that Putin and the FSB had a direct involvement in the murder. Nemtsov was the subject of censorship and possible surveillance from the Russian government for his anti-Putin statements and activities, and may have been planning to expose Russian involvement in Ukraine. Astute observers can see a parallel between the Nemtsov assassination and the poisoning of former FSB double agent Aleksandr Litvinenko. Given Nemtsov’s political ties and prominence, some have even made comparisons to the Nemtsov killing with the assassination of Sergej Kirov in 1934.

Whatever the case, the evidence and historical precedent implying that the FSB was behind Nemtsov’s assassination is certainly damning, particularly when taken in mind with Russia’s more aggressive actions as of late. With popular Youtube videos promoting revanchism openly circulated on Russian-language corners of the internet , as well as those blaming the United States for the current crisis in Ukraine, the possible assassination of Nemtsov should not be taken lightly by Western intelligence agencies.

Nemtsov’s assassination creates an opportunity for Western leaders to challenge Vladimir Putin on this Russian tradition of silencing dissent.  Acquiescing to the Kremlin’s conspiracy theories for the sake of diplomatic politeness would double as a show of weakness that will strengthen Putin and weaken pro-democratic forces in Russia.