13:03, 15 October 2015

Boris Nemtsov is among three finalists for Sakharov Prize

Flowers and Boris Nemtsov's photo at the Memorial to victims of political repressions. Photo by Svetlana Kravchenko for the ‘Caucasian Knot’

The European Parliament has mentioned the name of politician Boris Nemtsov, killed in February 2015, among three finalists for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

Boris Nemtsov was killed in the centre of Moscow on February 27. According to the official information, in the case of his murder, five natives of Chechnya and Ingushetia were detained, including Zaur Dadaev, Anzor Gubashev, Khamzat Bakhaev, Tamerlan Eskerkhanov, and Shagid Gubashev. All five detainees are under arrest, and the charges have been formally filed against them. Four detainees plead not guilty.

Apart from Boris Nemtsov, the number of nominees for the Sakharov Prize includes Saudi blogger Raif Badawi and the Democratic Unity Round Table of Venezuela.

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is serving his 10-year prison sentence: he was accused of insulting Islam and committing cybercrimes. The blogger created the website "Liberal Network of Saudi Arabia", and in 2012, he was arrested for criticizing religious figures and the religious police of Saudi Arabia. The Democratic Unity Round Table of Venezuela is in the opposition to the Venezuelan government led by Nicolas Maduro, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

The winner of the Sakharov Prize will be announced in late October.

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