Moscow marchers 'forbidden' from passing site of Nemtsov's murder

By Euronews with REUTERS • Updated: 27/02/2016

Thousands of people marching through Moscow to honour Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov have reportedly been forbidden from crossing the bridge where he was murdered.

He was gunned down one year ago, not far from the presidential residence.

Many thousands march in Moscow in memory of Boris Nemtsov. Brutally murdered on this day a year ago. pic.twitter.com/oHGFMGStpA
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) February 27, 2016

No official explanation was given for the decision not to allow the march to cross. It was put into place a day after MPs refused to hold a minute’s silence in memory of the activist.

Reports suggest people were allowed to place flowers at the murder site.

Earlier today in Moscow, flowers on the bridge where #Nemtsov was shot dead a year ago. pic.twitter.com/0Oo4VWzfSr
— Joshua Yaffa (@yaffaesque) February 27, 2016

Following an inquiry ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, investigators charged a group of Chechen men with Nemtsov’s murder. However, several among the 55-year-old former prime minister’s supporters claim the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya ordered his killing to please Putin.

Nemtsov’s allies are vying for political change in Russia.

“We continue what we started doing with Boris Nemtsov last year,” former Prime Minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, told reporters. “Changing the political course of our country, changing the country through elections. We’re preparing to turn Putin’s imitation of a ballot into a proper, fair vote.”

Legislative elections are scheduled for September, 2016. United Russia currently holds the most seats in parliament — success which is widely attributed to its connections with Putin, the party’s former leader.

Independent MP, Dmitry Gudkov, added:
“If the opposition unites and presents a joint list for the upcoming elections, that would be a completely different story. It would give us a fraction in parliament. And a fraction is a powerful tool to influence what happens in society, parliament and the government as a whole.”