Sochi residents commemorate Boris Nemtsov (+video)

Today, about 100 residents of Sochi have left for Moscow to attend the funeral of Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead in the Russian capital. The politician was an honest and open person, say the residents of Sochi, who personally knew Nemtsov. The police recommended not holding any mourning actions in Sochi, said Natalia Kalinovskaya, the chair of the Comradeship of Public Self-Management (known as TOS) "Psou".

She added that during Nemtsov's visits to Sochi, he was all the time shadowed by policemen.

Nemtsov "was always speaking openly and directly," said Vladimir Kimaev, an activist of the "Ecological Watch for Northern Caucasus".

In 2009, Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Milov published a report "Sochi and Olympiad", which analyzed the political, economic and environmental problems associated with the preparation for the Winter Olympics, and came to the conclusion that "the 2014 Games in Sochi, as they are conceived and prepared is an adventure, deadly for the city." In June 2013, Nemtsov visited the family of the builder of Olympic facilities Mardiros Demerchyan, who was accused of false denunciation against policemen. On December 17, 2014, the Adler District Court of Sochi appointed a punishment to Demerchyan in the form of compulsory works. In December 2014, Nemtsov said that he would continue providing legal support to Demerchyan and his family.

The "Caucasian Knot" has published an archival record of the interview with Nemtsov of October 7, 2012, on the anniversary of the murder of Anna Politkovskaya. The politician said that her murder was a result of "the atmosphere of hatred that reigns in the country." According to Nemtsov, the authorities were not interested in disclosing the resonant murder.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.