Today, February 27, France pays homage to the opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was brutally assassinated near the Kremlin in Moscow in 2015.
His courage and his tireless fight for democracy and fundamental freedoms, which serve as a source of inspiration for many Russians and non-Russians alike, resonate more than ever at a time of growing repression of the opposition, civil society and independent media in Russia.
Ten years after Nemtsov's death, the individuals who ordered his assassination still have not been identified. One of his killers, who had been sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment, was pardoned in exchange for committing to fight on the front lines and take part in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
France once again calls on the Russian authorities to shed full light on this heinous crime and to end all proceedings against those who defend their right to live in a democratic, free, peaceful Russia, risking their freedom and sometimes, their life.