Putin supports investigators' position in Nemtsov's case

Yesterday, during the traditional big annual press conference of Vladimir Putin, Alexei Solomin, a correspondent of the "Echo Moskvy" Radio, asked the President about the murder case of the politician Boris Nemtsov.

Boris Nemtsov was shot dead on February 27, 2015, in Moscow. Within his murder case five natives from Chechnya and Ingushetia were arrested, including Zaur Dadaev, brothers Anzor and Shagid Gubashev, Tamerlan Eskerkhanov and Khamzat Bakhaev. The criminal case also involves Chechen officers Ruslan Mukhudinov, Ruslan Geremeev, and Beslan Shavanov, who was killed during his detention.

"You follow the progress of the case, don't you? As a lawyer, do you find convincing what happens? And, being the Commander-in-Chief, do you think it necessary to bring Ruslan Geremeev, a Russian officer, to the court for questioning?" asked Solomin.

Vladimir Putin answered, saying that he follows "all so-called loud and resonant cases, especially such serious crimes as murders, in this case, the murder of Nemtsov."

"Of course, I support everything, what investigators are doing towards clearing out all the circumstances and identifying all those involved and responsible..." the President has stated.

Although, in his reply Vladimir Putin failed to mention Ruslan Geremeev at least once, he clearly demonstrated that he was aware about the man in question, Vadim Prokhorov, an advocate of Nemtsov's daughter, said in his comment on Mr Putin's press conference.

"The possible involvement of Ruslan Geremeev in the murder hasn't caused any shadow of doubt in the President. He didn't even ask who that was. So, it is clear that he is informed about the trial, and, in general, he knows more than anybody else. I really hope that the investigators will react somehow... Now, Geremeev is in the status of a witness (only his driver Ruslan Mukhudinov has been charged in absentia), although, in my opinion, he is a culprit like all the other," the "MK.ru" quotes Vadim Prokhorov as saying.

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