Thousands mourn Putin critic Boris Nemtsov

March 1, 2015. Carrying signs that read, "I am not afraid", Russians march the capital of Moscow in the thousands Sunday morning to remember Kremlin critic Boris Nemstov whose death on the streets of the capital stirred Russian opposition. An organizer tells Aljazeera that more than 70,000 people have turned up on Sunday with signs and Russian flags to partake in a steady march alongside the Moskva river. However, police have estimated crowd numbers to be at around 16,000—a curiously staggering difference that probably aims to undermine the strength of the march.

Nemtsov, who was 55, was shot dead in front of the Kremlin on Friday when I car, driving buy, fired what was believed to be 4 gun shots. Following the shooting, Putin released a statement stating that he would personally oversee the investigation into the slaying of Nemtsov (I hardly find this comforting). Russian investigators say that there is a possibility that Nemtsov was targeted by Muslim attackers, or that the opposition have him killed as to tarnish Putin's name. Putin's opponents are quick to note the level of cynicism demonstrated by Russia's leaders as they "whip up nationalism". Many speculate that the Kremlin's rhetoric on the subject of who to blame is aiming to whip up anti-Western hysteria into a rallying cry to support Russia's policies on Ukraine, even deflecting blame for the countries current economic crisis.

Nemtsoc was the leading fist of the opposition struggling to prevent Putin from returning to the presidency following his four years as prime minister. Putin became Russia's leader in 2000 when President Boris Yeltsin chose Putin as his successor: a role, as Aljazeera notes, "Nemtsov had once been destined to play."

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/3/1/thousands-march-in-russia-to-mourn-putin-critic-boris-nemtsov.html

- Josephine Madrawska