Yabloko honoured the memory of politician Boris Nemtsov in Moscow and Russian regions
Press Release, 28.02.2023
Photo: Kazan / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
On 27 February, eight years ago, opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was killed by the walls of the Kremlin on the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky Bridge. On the day of the murder, Yabloko annually holds commemorative events in Moscow and Russian regions in memory of Boris Nemtsov who opposed the war and was killed because of it.
Photo: Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
In Moscow, Yabloko leaders and activists came to the site of the murder, which has become a people’s memorial. Flowers were brought to the Nemtsov Bridge by Yabloko founder Grigory Yavlinsky, Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov, Yabloko Deputy Chair Ivan Bolshakov, Moscow Yabloko Deputy Chair Kirill Goncharov, and party activists.
Photo: Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
In the evening, an event in memory of Boris Nemtsov was held at the Yabloko office in Moscow. Grigory Yavlinsky, Nikolai Rybakov, Vadim Prokhorov, the lawyer of Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Kara-Murza, shared their memories about Boris Nemtsov.
Photo: Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
A documentary “Nemtsov” by Vladimir Kara-Murza was demonstrated. The hall was full of civic activists, supporters of Yabloko and all those who want to see Russia free, democratic and open to the world, friendly and peaceful towards its neighbours, as Nemtsov wanted it to be.
Photo: Grigory Yavlinsky, Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Photo: Nikolai Rybakov, Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Photo: Kirill Goncharov, Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Lawyer Vadim Prokhorov conveyed greetings from Vladimir Kara-Murza, a close associate and a friend of Nemtsov, who is in jail now:
Photo: Lawyer Vadim Prokhorov, Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
“For eight years now I have hated the end of February, and that 27th of February scrolls every year in my head for minutes. Until our last correspondence. “See you tomorrow, godfather [of my daughter]!” It was at 23:06, 25 minutes before the shots on the bridge. For me, as, I know, for very many people, those shots forever divided life into “before” and “after”.
Vasily Zhukovsky in his famous lines taught us not to say “with anguish: they are not with us anymore; but with gratitude: they were with us”. I am grateful for every day for all the 15 years that I had the opportunity to go through with Boris Nemtsov. Thank you for each lesson, each advice, and each work done together. And, most importantly, for that invaluable experience that can be shared only and exclusively by personal example.
Boris was very fond of Andrei Sakharov’s words: “When you don’t know what to do, act according to your conscience”. And he lived just like that: he said what he thought; did what he promised; did not betray either beliefs or friends. And he always acted as he considered right, and not as it was profitable, easy or convenient. Regardless of the price. In his case, it was the highest possible price.
Many thanks to Yabloko, Grigory Yavlinsky, Nikolai Rybakov and, separately, Kirill Goncharov for today’s event. Huge thankы to everyone who is here today. It is very important for me. Boris has always gathered good people around him and goes on doing so.
It is always hard for me to find words on this day. All words seem insufficient. And then the inscription that Nemtsov left for me on one of his books comes to my mind: “Volodya, with the best wishes and confidence that we will break through together!”. Optimism has always been one of his main qualities, no matter what. Today, in spite of everything, I want to believe that we will break through. By all means.
Yours, Vladimir Kara-Murza”
Photo: Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Photo: Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Photo: Moscow/ Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
The leaders of the St. Petersburg branch of Yabloko also honoured the memory of Boris Nemtsov by laying flowers to the Solovetsky Stone, a memorial to the victims of political repression. The action was attended by Alexander Shishlov, the leader of the regional branch and head of the Yabloko faction of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, and Boris Vishnevsky, Deputy Chair of Yabloko. The ceremony of laying flowers was also attended by Olga Pokrovskaya, members of the regional bureau and the regional council of the party.
Photo: Olga Pokrovskaya, Boris Vishnevsky and Alexander Shishlov, Saint Petersburg / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
“Eight years ago, together with Boris Nemtsov, we discussed holding an anti-war and anti-crisis march in St. Petersburg and Moscow on 1 March, 2015. But it turned into a march in memory of Nemtsov then, which was attended by about 20,000 people in St. Petersburg. They marched across the Trinity Bridge and held a rally on the Field of Mars. We know why he was killed. When Russia becomes a free and democratic country, the names of those who ordered this and other political assassinations will be named,” Boris Vishnevsky said.
Photo: Pskov / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
A candle in memory of Boris Nemtsov was also lit in Pskov. Politicians Lev Shlosberg and Nikolai Kuzmin laid flowers at the foundation stone in memory of the victims of political repression in the square in front of the Myrrophores Cemetery.
Photo: Pskov / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Photo: Kazan / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Actions were also held in Novgorod, Kazan, Ufa and Barnaul. Yabloko regional leaders and activists laid flowers and lit candles in memory of Boris Nemtsov, who was murdered eight years ago. A commemorative rally was held in Barnaul.
Photo: Novgorod / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Every year participation in such events becomes increasingly more dangerous. Today, in the second year of the “special operation” in Ukraine, against which Boris Nemtsov opposed, the commemoration of the politician is regarded by the authorities almost as an anti-war statement. The authorities can forbid the laying of flowers, but will not take away the memory and desire for peace.
Photo: Novgorod / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service
Posted: March 1st, 2023 under Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Murder of Boris Nemtsov, Russia-Ukraine relations, Yabloko's Regional Branches, Без рубрики.