Turn towards internal violence for Russia as politician Boris Nemtsov assassination shocks nation

Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

‘The Country Changed Yesterday Night’

Following the murder of Boris Nemtsov, a prominent opposition leader in Russia, Freedom House issued the following statement:

“Nemtsov’s death comes as a terrible shock. It is particularly suspicious because he was killed two days before a major opposition rally in Moscow,” said Mark P. Lagon, president of Freedom House. “We mourn the loss of this extraordinary defender of democracy and freedom in Russia and strongly urge that the Russian government investigate this crime fully and transparently. The international community will be watching.”

Background:

After serving as deputy prime minister in President Boris Yeltsin’s government in the 1990s, Boris Nemtsov became a vocal opponent of Vladimir Putin’s illiberal rule and has led a number of opposition movements, including Union of the Right Forces party, the Solidarity movement, and RPR-Parnas party. He was scheduled to lead the March 2 “Spring Anti-Crisis March,” calling on Putin’s government to address number of political and socio-economic reforms.”

Russia is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2015, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2014, Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2014, and received a democracy score of 6.29 on a scale of 1-7, with 7 being the worst possible score, in Nations in Transit 2014.