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Prominent Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov shot dead

57 Comments
By LAURA MILLS and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

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57 Comments
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Putin doesn't need the death penalty: he can just have his goons smoke someone he doesn't like.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Of course, this was the Communist method carried over.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

"The Kremlin said that Putin will personally oversee the investigation."

Well that's a relief.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Probably more "volunteers" outside of Putin'c control who just happen to make moves that benefit him.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Any half serious person knows that the Kremlin has other methods to resort to than shooting high profile critics in public.

The Kremlin used to resort to slow arduous death by polonium poisoning, but Vlad only had 2 days to go before the protest.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Burning Bush: This murder was obviously staged to make Putin look bad

Apparently quite a few things have been "staged to make Putin look bad" in your assessment.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

You think the shooters could have done this in from of the Kremlin without Putin's OK? The only people that can get guns are the gangsters and the government. That makes 3 critics down.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

"Putin will personally oversee the investigation"

He will make sure his administraton does not get connected to the murder.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Nemtsov’s death comes just a day before a planned protest against President Vladimir Putin’s rule. The Kremlin said that Putin will personally oversee the investigation.

Amazing the arrogance behind this kind of behavior. And Merkel and Hollande believe they can reason with Putin. Please! He knows no rule of law, other than his own, either domestically or internationally.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

The KGB is alive and well and another brave Russian patriot bites the dust.

R.I.P.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Of course, Putin will oversee it. And that's where it will stop. Pity the poor Russians who think this thug is their answer to joining the rest of the world in the 21st century.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

And the Americans thought CCCP was bad!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Same thing happens in America but not because you criticize the government but because you criticize the owners of the government, i.e., central bankers, CFR, etc.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Don Putin has dropped any pretences of his gangster like ways on this one. His hit men might have well have used a Tommy gun and left the scene in a V8 Ford.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

"Same thing happens in America..."

Really? Please give some examples.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Paul,

The US doesn't need Russian gangster techniques à la Putin for the opposition, it has the Republican party working tirelessly at destroying the country from the inside instead.

The effects are as equally poisonous to progress however.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Putin must have doled out extra rations of methamphetamine in advance of his hit on the opposition. Go Vladimir, keep 'em up posting all night.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Had to laugh at the references made to the old days of communism and the KGB. Some people read too many spy stories. The reds and the KGB tend to operate more subtly than this. A poke with an umbrella, inhaling radioactive powder or a disappearance late at night. Make no mistake, Putin's grubby little hands are all over this, however, I reckon he called in some freelancing thugs rather than asking the state security apparatus to get involved.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Won't be surprised it's the KGB / Central Intelligence Service again; he knows too much.

In Russia, program executes you!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Putin, Stalin whats the difference!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Putin's been in "office" too long. He needs to learn how to give others a chance to lead Russia towards more progressive and profitable paths. But it seems he's gripped with a lust for keeping his power status.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Boris Nemtsov, a charismatic former deputy prime minister

1 He never was charismatic, never. Boring official.

2 His political career ended 15 years before his death. His was a little bit running out.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Olegek,

That's the worst apology for this assassination I've read yet, and that's quite an achievement, what with the Kremlin's Internet disinformation machine being in overdrive since the slaying.

Even our resident Comical Ali made a better effort. Get some sleep man.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Madverts Olegek, That's the worst apology for this assassination I've read yet,

Why apology ? The Idea was that Mr Nemtsov was no more politician in Russia

So it was no reason to take any actions against him from a political point of view. (zero popularity)

May be somebody use him as a sacrificial lamb....

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Give it up mate.

Putin has been silencing critics by assassination or imprisonment for years now.

Russian media is mostly totally controlled by his gangsters.

Putin may have a high percentage of approval ratings at home. So did the Nazi's in 1930's Germany when similar propaganda was used to whip up national fervour by a dictator telling a down on their luck population he'd make them great again.

The further Putin descends into madness, the more the comparisons with Adolf Hitler become chillingly apparent.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

@Olegek

"Boring officials" don't get banned from standing for election by frightened regimes.

Putin might have gone to far this time. The hitherto fragmented opposition to Putin are going to unify around this.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Hundreds of politicians and reporters have been murdered in Russia since Putin took over. Hundreds.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Quite a few lawyers critical of Putin too.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

It's the atmosphere that's allowed to exist for such things to happen to opposition politicians/businessmen/reporters but not to the establishment. That's dangerous.

It's eerie that it was just last year that chef Anthony Bourdain's "Parts Unknown" TV series had a dinner conversation with Boris Nemtsov about living under threat in Russia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_RaAKM-cXQ

Now it's like a crystal ball, just a couple days before an opposition march.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

lukabrasi Boring officials" don't get banned from standing for election by frightened regimes. Putin might have gone to far this time. The hitherto fragmented opposition to Putin are going to unify around this.

To critisize "regime" it's not enough to become popular politician.

His problem was unpopularity among Russian people, no chance for normal political career

Export-oriented politician.

Sad end of such career

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

For the ignorant posters who are mixing speculation with fact I have only one question: How do you know?

And I have an answer to that: You don't know.

You obviously do not have access to inside information or you would be giving us details instead of cliches and cocktail hour chat.

I have no idea who killed Nemtsov. I think his death is a tragic loss for Russian democracy, such as it is. I do not think Putin is behind this because of two reasons. One is his popularity. He had nothing to fear from Nemtsov. The second is that his murder makes Russia and, therefore, him look bad.

Who could have killed Nemtsov? This is pure speculation. I think it was someone outside the Kremlin's political loop. Inside the loop there would be little to fear of Nemtsov. He was organizing antiwar protests when Russia was officially not at war. No Russian mothers would be out there insisting on saving their sons from military service, unlike Ukrainian mothers. Inside the loop you would know less extreme measures to control dissent.

Outside the loop you would be feeling only anger against presumed traitors and helpless in stopping them. This would include a large number of the population. Today the majority of Russians hate the United States, probably more than ever had those negative view during the worst of the Cold War. That in my speculative view is where you should look for the murderers.

Putin has more to fear from insiders than outsiders like Nemtsov.

Having said all this, my conclusion is I do not know who did it. If I did I would be bothering with this forum.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

You're probably right. An ex-KGB dictator would never do something that might make himself look bad.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Correction to last sentence in above "...would NOT be bothering with this forum.

For once I am in agreement with SuperLib (more or less). Putin, whatever he is, would probably not want to risk looking bad with a political murder. That Nemtsov was murdered makes Russia look back regardless of who the culprits are.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The Kremlin said that Putin will personally oversee the investigation........Case solved, only Hercule Putin and the keystone Kremlin can solve this perplexing complicated mystery.....

1 ( +4 / -3 )

That Nemtsov was murdered makes Russia look back regardless of who the culprits are.

I would amend that: Putin has created a state in which his murder of political opponents is entirely plausible.

A Republican candidate for the governorship of Missouri apparently committed suicide last week, but even the most extremist rightists never thought to point fingers at Obama. That is America.

I won't pretend to know who was behind this, but Putin's history leaves him - or his cohorts - quite likely. That is Putin's legacy, whether he was involved or not.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Who knows what the truth is. But, tellingly, at this point Putin could easily have an someone like Nemtsov offed and blame the West and your average Russian would buy it. Have his cake and eat it so to speak.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Approval ratings can melt away like ice cream in a system of parliamentary democracy, assuming the opposition can live long enough to form a government.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Paulinusa et al, I used to be a fervent believer in everything that was published in the news, always siding with the pro West. For one thing I served in the armed forces all my life and still serve in the US government. Even during 9/11 I came back to serve in the armed forces. But something was not right. When I saw the "planes" hitting the twin towers, the flight path and speed looked abnormal, to the point it reminded me of Mighty Mouse, who would come from nowhere similar to how the "planes" came. So, I researched in alternative sources from the Internet like U-Tube and from non-main stream media. Even before I learned about the powers behind the US government, I had a hunch that all the wars in the 1800s were somehow related to the wars in the 1900s. My suspicion became true about learning about the Federal Reserve Bank and its predecessors. The ones that we believe are running our government all far from the truth. Here is a short article that summarizes who killed our presidents and why. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4n0J19yFMY

But if you have time, watch a much longer version at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq9yjt_JbWs

The media controls us through passionate events and we tend to believe everything is fed to us right away. It is like a cheating spouse that keeps cheating behind our backs and when we are warned by outside parties and even when we have the gut feeling and almost prove of its infidelity, we still let it go for our blind love. We must learned how we get manipulated and be able to see things more objectively. Believe me, I was just like the average news reader. And woke up out of it. I am sure that is the same case with Burning Bush. Opening your eyes does not make you less patriotic, but a better citizen. I am nobody with any credibility to make you change your beliefs. But I can mention names like Maj Gen Smedley D Butler, Maj Gen Stubblebine, Gen Boykin, etc. And as you check their testimonies, you should also be able to find more links to the whole scheme. It is not just as simple as saying the banking system is responsible. It is like a spider web. I wish you the best in your own research. But please do not just dismiss it without spending some time with an objective check of your own.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Kabukilover, exellent observation!

Nemtsov was a spent shell, Putin had absolutely nothing to fear from because Nemtsov was almost forgotten, harmless and irrelevant. Sometimes he made noisy shows and silly declarations most Russian laughed at. Putin needed him to show to the West - "Look at this clown, Im not a dictator, I have opposition!"

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Oh Dear oh dear, what a shame this gezza had a most terrible "ACCIDENT" just before he was about to give this vital evidence how unfortunate.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Yeah, but as a Madverts said, it's the state of Putin's Russia. Opposition figures too often get shot or jailed. Now we have Putin personally handling the investigation? Good grief.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Correction: "....bad [not back] for Russia. The typo demons are having a riot with me today.

Asakaze, I am not that well up on Russian politics to say whether Nemtsov was a spent shell or not. It should be obvious to even the most distant observer that Ukraine and sanctions changed everything. Russians feel they are isolated and under attack and are therefore rallying around their leader. Putin's popularity is at an all time high. There is more Russian anger directed against the US now than any time during the Cold War. Some of that popular anger inevitably must be directed (or misdirected) against dissidents.

Again, my guess is that this was a kitchen table conspiracy concocted by political outsiders. Putin would not be so stupid as hire assassins to kill Nemtsov. I doubt anyone in his inner circle would find it useful to themselves to kill off Nemtsov.

Anyway, I am only guessing. One thing is certain. This assassination is absolutely no good for Russia's PR.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Kabukilover

He was organizing antiwar protests when Russia was officially not at war. No Russian mothers would be out there insisting on saving their sons from military service, unlike Ukrainian mothers.

Now you are underestimating Russian mothers. When your son is killed, you demand justice. And you don't longer care of your personal safety by doing so. http://www.mamasoldata.org/

And there is personal danger of opposing Putin in Russia. My friend speaks Russian and he wrote some critics on Russian forums. He had his real phone number on the personal information and soon he received phone calls in the middle of the night that he should change his opinions, if he know what is the best for him. Of course my friend laughed and said that if you are going to beat me up, you would have to get a visa and airplane ticket, because I don't even live in Russia. When I got my visa to Russia I asked directly from the seller, who was Russian woman, if I would get in trouble of showing any political activism in Russia and she said it is true. If Russia fears even tourists, I would bet that it fears even more its own citizens.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Interesting story hameln but not to the point.

Russia is corrupt. We know that. Putin acts like a dictator. We know that. But that is of little use with regard to this murder. It is very possible the Russian mafia did this. Nemtsov was going to reveal specific facts about corruption with regard to Sochi. But again: speculation. It is okay to speculate. It is not okay to present speculation as fact. Russian investigators are saying this was a well-planned murder. But who and why remain unanswered questions at this writing.

We shall see what happens. Putin promised Nemtsov's mother that the murders would brought to justice. Russian mothers are not to be played with.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Kabukilover: Putin would not be so stupid as hire assassins to kill Nemtsov.

He doesn't have to. When you are a dictator things "just kind of happen" for your benefit, especially if you make your wishes known.

Russia is corrupt. We know that. Putin acts like a dictator. We know that. But that is of little use with regard to this murder.

So you have a corrupt government headed by a dictator, and none of that is relevant when the opposition is killed? Alrighty.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Putin? Look in the mirror for the killer.

I can't think of anyone who is more corrupt ... in the world ... assuming this documentary is even 10% accurate: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/putins-way/

2 ( +3 / -1 )

hamelnMAR. 01, 2015 - 12:18AM JST And there is personal danger of opposing Putin in Russia. My friend speaks Russian and he wrote some critics on Russian forums. He had his real phone number on the personal information and soon he received phone calls in the middle of the night that he should change his opinions, if he know what is the best for him.

You friend are still alive I hope?

If KGB agents will hunt every critics on Russia it will be real big movement.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Olegek: You friend are still alive I hope?

He probably knows to not drink the polonium tea.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

turbotsat He probably knows to not drink the polonium tea

If the British secret service offers you a cup of tea

You can not resist

And it's not polite

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Wikipedia says it was former KGB bodyguard and current Duma (Russian Parliament) member Andrey Lugovoy and former KGB agent and current Russian businessman Dmitri Kovtun, who met former KGB spy and current deceased person Alexander Litvinenko for tea, and provided two of the three polonium trails after the incident (Litvinenko's was the third).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_of_Alexander_Litvinenko

2 ( +2 / -0 )

turbotsat Wikipedia says it was former

As far as I understand UK has some secret service.

A lot of accusation a zero of evidence.

Like with Malaysian Boeing

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

Someone gave info on time and where they will be walking/ Excellemt shooter. Snow plowman noticed a car drove by quickly. The model returned to Uklina and her mother said her daighter got accused because she is from Uklina. His wife and children are quiet. Lesson to famous people is never make young good looking girls as your friend if your country has many people who own guns/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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