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Boris Nemtsov murder trial begins at Moscow military court Boris Nemtsov murder trial begins at Moscow military court
(about 7 hours later)
Five men accused of involvement in the killing of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov have gone on trial at a military court in Moscow.Five men accused of involvement in the killing of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov have gone on trial at a military court in Moscow.
A former deputy prime minister who became a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, Nemtsov was shot dead last year near the Kremlin.A former deputy prime minister who became a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, Nemtsov was shot dead last year near the Kremlin.
The defendants - all Chechens - were allegedly promised cash to kill him. All deny the charges.The defendants - all Chechens - were allegedly promised cash to kill him. All deny the charges.
His relatives fear whoever ordered the killing will never be found.His relatives fear whoever ordered the killing will never be found.
A Nemtsov family lawyer told the court the investigation was neither objective nor complete, pointing to a lack of video evidence despite the crime happening close to one of the most famous landmarks in Russia. "The murder of Boris Nemtsov has not been solved," said lawyer Olga Mikhailova, who represents his family.
She added that the investigation was neither "effective" nor "comprehensive".
Lawyers for Nemtsov's family also pointed to a lack of video evidence despite the crime happening close to one of the most famous landmarks in Russia.
Tight security was in place as the trial began, with the suspects led into court by armed police wearing balaclavas.Tight security was in place as the trial began, with the suspects led into court by armed police wearing balaclavas.
Nemtsov, who was 55, served as first deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s.Nemtsov, who was 55, served as first deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s.
But after falling out of favour with Yeltsin's successor, Mr Putin, he became an outspoken opposition politician, attacking the government over the economy, corruption and its involvement in Ukraine's war.But after falling out of favour with Yeltsin's successor, Mr Putin, he became an outspoken opposition politician, attacking the government over the economy, corruption and its involvement in Ukraine's war.
Who are the accused?Who are the accused?
Nemtsov murder: The suspectsNemtsov murder: The suspects
On what was to be his last night alive Nemtsov had been on a liberal radio station, calling on listeners to join a protest rally at the weekend.On what was to be his last night alive Nemtsov had been on a liberal radio station, calling on listeners to join a protest rally at the weekend.
He was shot in the back late at night crossing a bridge a few hundreds meters from to the Kremlin, Russia's iconic government building, dying on the spot. He was shot in the back late at night crossing a bridge a few hundreds meters from to the Kremlin, where the president has his office, dying on the spot.
The site is still marked with flowers in his memory. The site is still marked with flowers in his memory, and some Moscovites now refer to it as "Nemtsov's bridge".
President Putin called the murder "vile and cynical" and vowed that those responsible would be held to account.President Putin called the murder "vile and cynical" and vowed that those responsible would be held to account.
The accused are said to have had Nemtsov under surveillance for months.The accused are said to have had Nemtsov under surveillance for months.
The suspect that investigators say carried out the killing, Zaur Dadayev, was an officer under the command of pro-Moscow Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The suspect who investigators say carried out the killing, Zaur Dadayev, was an officer under the command of pro-Moscow's Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Russia's Chechen Republic in the volatile North Caucasus.
Russian authorities are still seeking the arrest of Ruslan Mukhudinov, who is believed to have fled abroad. He is said to have ordered Nemtsov's killing.
But lawyers for Nemtsov's family say the investigators have exaggerated Mr Mukhudinov's role and "the masterminds are high-ranking people".
Russia has seen several killings of high-profile politicians and journalists.Russia has seen several killings of high-profile politicians and journalists.
But the country has a long history of prosecuting alleged hit-men and then failing to follow the chain of command upwards to discover who ordered the murder or why, our Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford says.But the country has a long history of prosecuting alleged hit-men and then failing to follow the chain of command upwards to discover who ordered the murder or why, our Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford says.