01 March 2023, 23:54
Under fear of repressions, Sochi townspeople commemorate Boris Nemtsov
The flowers and candles brought by Sochi residents to the memorial for victims of political repressions in memory of Boris Nemtsov, a few hours later were removed by unknown people. Activists admitted that since 2022 they are afraid to openly hold actions in memory of the assassinated politician and prefer to commemorate him at home.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in February 2021, Sochi residents commemorated Boris Nemtsov by laying flowers at the house in the narrow passage where he was born, as well as to the above memorial to victims of political repressions. Authorities refused to sanction a picket on the occasion of the anniversary of Boris' murder.
Boris Nemtsov was shot dead in Moscow on February 27, 2015. In 2017, within the murder case, five natives of Chechnya were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 11 to 20 years. In November 2020, the authors of the investigation conducted by the "Mediazona" and the Scanner Project stated that investigators had ignored the convicts' links with some people close to Chechen authorities.
At night on February 28, Sochi residents honoured the memory of Nemtsov by laying flowers and lighting candles at the politician's portrait. However, on the same night, unknown people removed the flowers and candles.
According to Olga Levina, a pensioner, she herself laid flowers to Nemtsov on February 27, but now "health does not allow her to take part in such actions." "Earlier, people used to get together during the daytime, and even made speeches. Now everyone is scared," she said.
Svetlana, a Sochi resident, said that until 2022 she came to the memorial on February 27 to lay flowers in memory of Nemtsov, but now she is afraid to do so. "I can't imagine that politicians are in jail for their beliefs," she has noted.
In her opinion, Nemtsov was "a leader really dangerous to the regime, since he could lead millions of people."
Valery, another local, perceives Nemtsov's murder as his personal tragedy; however, he is not ready to take part in actions or openly express his position.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 1, 2023 at 08:03 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Kristina Romanova Source: СK correspondent
