Alexei Melnikov’s blog post, 27.02.2020

Photo: a participant of the Boris Nemtsov Memorial March holding a placard “Boris, this is your spring!”

A solemn naming of the square situated by the Russian Embassy in Prague after [slain Russian opposition politician] Boris Nemtsov will take place in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, soon.

The Ambassador of Russia and diplomats of our country must take part in this ceremony.

The Ambassador is obliged to express his gratitude to the Czech Republic for a gesture of goodwill – naming of the square in Prague after the Russian statesman killed in Moscow five years ago.

In the Ambassador’s speech should announce that the authorities have studied the OSCE report on the Nemtsov murder case and that conclusions will be drawn from it soon.

In particular, it should be announced that the investigation will now be carried out under the charges of murder of a statesman, the organisers and customers of the crime will be found, there will be no “untouchable” persons for the investigation.

The absence of Russian diplomats at the ceremony is unacceptable. There is no reason for this. If only the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic want to demonstrate with this gesture the involvement of the Russian authorities in the murder of Boris Nemtsov. In other cases, ignoring is impossible.

The Russian Foreign Ministry is not a private business Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov. Its work is paid by taxes of Russian citizens of different political views. In its work, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obliged to be guided by the principles of party impartiality, so that to adequately represent Russia.

Boris Nemtsov was a prominent Russian statesman and a prominent representative of the opposition. He became a victim of political assassination. It is the duty of Russian diplomacy to thank the Czech Republic for perpetuating his memory, pay tribute to the memory of Boris Nemtsov and bow heads before his memory.

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