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World Leaders Deplore Boris Nemtsov’s Murder

© REUTERS / Sergei KarpukhinA photo and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015.
A photo and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. - Sputnik International
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World leaders expressed their condolences to the family of opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Friday night in Moscow.

Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was shot to death in central Moscow late Friday, Interfax reports. - Sputnik International
Russia
Russian Politician Boris Nemtsov Killed in Moscow
World leaders deplored the assassination of Boris Nemtsov, one of the most well-known politicians of Yeltsin-era Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the slain politician’s relatives and ordered the Investigative Committee, the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service to set up a special investigative team. "Putin emphasized that this brutal murder has all signs of being ordered and is of an exclusively provocative character," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called on law enforcement to do their best to find those accountable for the “brutal murder of the prominent politician”.

© Sputnik / Ruslan Krivobok / Go to the mediabankBoris Nemtsov, co-chairman of the People's Freedom Party, pictured outside the building of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
Boris Nemtsov - Sputnik International
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Boris Nemtsov, co-chairman of the People's Freedom Party, pictured outside the building of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankA murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
Boris Nemtsov shot dead in central Moscow - Sputnik International
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A murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankOppositionist Ilya Yashin and TV anchorwoman Ksenia Sobchak at a murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
Boris Nemtsov shot dead in central Moscow - Sputnik International
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Oppositionist Ilya Yashin and TV anchorwoman Ksenia Sobchak at a murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
© REUTERS / Sergei KarpukhinA photo and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. Nemtsov, a Russian opposition politician and former deputy prime minister who was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead metres from the Kremlin in central Moscow late on Friday. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)
A photo and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. - Sputnik International
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A photo and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. Nemtsov, a Russian opposition politician and former deputy prime minister who was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead metres from the Kremlin in central Moscow late on Friday. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)
© REUTERS / Sergei Karpukhin A photo, candles and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. Nemtsov, a Russian opposition politician and former deputy prime minister who was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead metres from the Kremlin in central Moscow late on Friday. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)
A photo, candles and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. - Sputnik International
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A photo, candles and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. Nemtsov, a Russian opposition politician and former deputy prime minister who was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead metres from the Kremlin in central Moscow late on Friday. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)
© REUTERS / Sergei Karpukhin A photo, an icon and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin and Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis, was shot dead steps from the Kremlin in a murder that underscored the risks taken by the Russian opposition. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW RELIGION)
A photo, an icon and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. - Sputnik International
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A photo, an icon and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin and Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis, was shot dead steps from the Kremlin in a murder that underscored the risks taken by the Russian opposition. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW RELIGION)
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankA murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
Boris Nemtsov shot dead in central Moscow - Sputnik International
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A murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev / Go to the mediabankCo-chair of the RPR-PARNAS political party Mikhail Kasyanov, center, and oppositionist Ilya Yashin at a murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
Boris Nemtsov shot dead in central Moscow - Sputnik International
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Co-chair of the RPR-PARNAS political party Mikhail Kasyanov, center, and oppositionist Ilya Yashin at a murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
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Boris Nemtsov, co-chairman of the People's Freedom Party, pictured outside the building of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
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A murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
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Oppositionist Ilya Yashin and TV anchorwoman Ksenia Sobchak at a murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
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A photo and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. Nemtsov, a Russian opposition politician and former deputy prime minister who was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead metres from the Kremlin in central Moscow late on Friday. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)
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A photo, candles and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. Nemtsov, a Russian opposition politician and former deputy prime minister who was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, was shot dead metres from the Kremlin in central Moscow late on Friday. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)
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A photo, an icon and flowers are placed at the site where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, near the Kremlin in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin and Russia's role in the Ukraine crisis, was shot dead steps from the Kremlin in a murder that underscored the risks taken by the Russian opposition. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW RELIGION)
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A murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.
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Co-chair of the RPR-PARNAS political party Mikhail Kasyanov, center, and oppositionist Ilya Yashin at a murder scene of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead on Moskvoretsky bridge.

US President Barack Obama condemned the “brutal murder” and called on Russia to conduct a transparent investigation into the crime.

French President Francois Hollande expressed his condolences to the family of Boris Nemtsov, a “courageous and tireless defender of democracy and a fierce fighter against corruption”.

Ukraine’s leader Petro Poroshenko said that killed Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was a bridge between Russia and Ukraine that has now been destroyed. "He was a bridge between Ukraine and Russia. The murderers' shot destroyed that. I think it was not coincidental. I do not doubt that the killers will be punished. Sooner or later," Poroshenko wrote on his Facebook page and Twitter.

British Prime Minister David Cameron asserted that Boris Nemtsov's values would never die.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was "shocked by the insidious murder" and called on Russia to bring the criminals to justice.

"Merkel extends her condolences to the family [of Nemtsov] and calls on President Vladimir Putin to facilitate a speedy investigation and to prosecute those responsible," a German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement.

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella addressed his condolences to Nemtsov's family and the people of Russia. The Italian leader expressed hopes that "the perpetrators of the heinous act will soon be brought to justice".

Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb demanded an urgent and transparent investigation into Boris Nemtsov's murder.

Former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky took Nemtsov’s death personally. “The death of Boris — grief for me and my family. We all loved him. Reckless, but a very nice guy”, he wrote on Twitter.

US Secretary of State John Kerry asserted that Nemtsov had committed his life to a democratic Russia, and to strong relationships between Russia and its neighbors and partners, including the United States. "His absence will be deeply felt in Russia and around the world," Kerry's statement said. "I am shocked and saddened to learn of the brutal murder of former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov in central Moscow”.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper extended deepest condolences to Nemtsov’s family on behalf of Canada.

Sweden's Foreign Affairs Minister Margot Wallström asked the truth to be found and justice to be served.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said her thoughts were with the family of the "strong advocate for modern, prosperous and democratic Russian Federation".

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjorn Jagland was appalled by the murder.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he was shocked by the "ruthless murder".

His colleague Michael Roth, Minister of State for Europe, said that the violent act will not destroy freedom.

In his turn, US Senator John Mccain tweeted he felt heartbroken by the murder of his friend Boris Nemtsov – “a voice for human rights in Russia.”

Mikhail Gorbachev meets with readers during presentation of his book After the Kremlin - Sputnik International
Russia
Boris Nemtsov’s Killers Tried to Destabilize Russia – Gorbachev
The assassination of Boris Nemtsov complicates the situation in the country, even destabilizing it by ratcheting up tensions between the government and the opposition, Mikhail Gorbachev, a former leader of the Soviet Union, said.

“Just who did this is hard to say, let’s not jump to any conclusions right now and give the investigators time to sort this all out,” he added.  Gorbachev did not rule out that the high-profile killing could encourage some people to urge the authorities to introduce a state of emergency which he said would only exacerbate what is already a difficult situation.

Former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul paid tribute to Boris Nemtsov's activities.

Russian opposition blogger Alexey Navalny described the murder as "terrible tragedy and loss". "My most sincere condolences to his family, relatives, friends, well and all in general — we really lost something we can never make up for", Navalny wrote on Facebook. "I hope I'll be allowed to attend his funeral", Navalny said referring to his 15-day-long arrest.

People come to lay flowers at the site, where Boris Nemtsov was shot dead, with St. Basil's Cathedral (R) and the Kremlin walls seen in the background, in central Moscow, February 28, 2015. - Sputnik International
Russia
Putin Considers Nemtsov’s Murder Provocation, Expresses Condolences
On Friday night, Boris Nemtsov was killed when several shots were fired at him from a car, while he was walking in central Moscow. Boris Nemtsov was 55 years old. He was born in Sochi. In 1985, he received his Ph.D in Physics and Mathemathics at the State University of Gorky. In 1991, Boris Nemtsov was appointed the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. He also was a former deputy prime minister in the Russian government under President Boris Yeltsin. At one point he was considered a likely presidential candidate. Nemtsov co-chaired the RPR-PARNAS (Republican Party of Russia – People's Freedom Party) since 2012 and was also one of the leaders of the liberal Solidarnost movement. Since September 2013 and until his death, Nemtsov served as a member of the Yaroslavl Region's parliament.

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