Three years ago Russia’s leading opposition figure Boris Nemtsov was shot on a bridge just outside the Kremlin.
Five people have been charged with his murder, although substantial evidence indicates that other people were responsible for his death.
On Sunday Russians came out to march in honor of the slain critic. Boris Nemtsov led protests against Putin in Moscow in 2011-2012. He later became an outspoken critic over Russia’s role in the Ukraine crisis and published a report on the $50 billion Sochi Olympics exposing widespread graft and corruption.
Between 7,000-8,000 people came out for the march with temperatures hovering at -15 degrees Celsius.
People came carrying pictures of Boris Nemtsov and waving Russian flags.
Police had prepared for 30,000 people to show up, although much less people ended up coming. Police put the number at 4,000 people while others said the number was closer to 7,000-8,000.
“Killed for freedom.”
On the left: “Fight every day. Against persecution, repression and fabricated charges.”
On the right: “Freedom for antifascists.”
Unlike protests in Europe or North America where anybody walking by can join, in Moscow police cornered off a section of the city so only those that knew about the march and joined it at the beginning could attend. People walking by on side streets were not allowed to join. This tactic keeps the numbers and publicity of opposition events down.
The flag of the Solidarnost Party, a liberal democratic political party founded by Boris Nemtsov, Garry Kasparov and other well-known opposition parties in 2008.
“No Words”
A Ukrainian flag amid a sea of Russian flags.
“Freedom nation republicanism”
“Russian March opposes political terror.” Russian March is a gathering of Russian nationalists. Even they came out to voice their protest against the murder of the liberal critic, despite being on opposite sides of the political spectrum.
“The right sector opposes political repression.”
“We ourselves will build our motherland.”
Approaching Sakharov Prospect where the majority of Russian marches and opposition meetings are held.
A balloon with Alexei Navalny’s logo on it surrounded by Russian flags. Alexei Navalny is Russia’s main opposition leader who has been banned from running for elections in March 2018 despite widespread popularity.
More Russian flags.
On the right there is a billboard that says ‘our choice.’ These billboards have popped up all over Moscow in recent weeks to encourage Russians to go to the polls and vote. Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most popular opposition leader, is calling for a boycott.
“In Russia there is a deficit of freedom, a deficit of justice.”
“The glorious descendants of honorable forefathers.”
A reference to the American criminal film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” In the movie an angry mother rents out three billboards in the city to call attention to the unsolved murder of her daughter.
“Propaganda kills”
“Who ordered (it)?” While five Chechens have been found guilty for murdering Nemtsov, the man who ordered the killing has yet to be found.
“Freedom to antifascists”
“Fight every day! Against persecution, repression and fabricated charges.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“For a Russia without Putin.”
“I love Russia.”
“Not simply a thief but also a killer.”
“Put him out.”
“You plant terror – you reap a tribunal.”
“Nemtsov Bridge”
“Propaganda kills.”
Police dispersing the crowd at the end of the march.
Russians go to the polls on March 18th to elect a president. All independent polling suggests that Vladimir Putin is going to win. The most popular opposition figure Alexei Navalny has been barred from running, blacklisted from state media channels, and is calling for a boycott.
