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Zhanna Nemtsova: Father always gave us freedom of choice

Zhanna Nemtsova: Father always gave us freedom of choice
Zhanna Nemtsova

Due to threats against her, the daughter of the murdered Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was forced to leave Russia.

Now Zhanna Nemtsova lives in Europe, but for the moment she would not disclose her location. The eldest daughter of the politician and until recently a RBC TV host, she has announced the establishment of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation and calls for sanctions against the Kremlin propagandists believed to be involved in the murder of her Father.

Zhanna Nemtsova answered the questions of the charter97.org editor-in-chief Natalia Radina.

- Zhanna, we met in Warsaw just a month ago, and then you said that the threats against you in Russia are 'sporadic' and the 'consolidated' decision about you is still pending. What has changed during this time? Why did you have to leave so hastily?

- Natalia, the threats were indeed sporadic, but I think that they are to be taken seriously.

The change is that the friend and colleague of my Father and my friend, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. was taken to hospital. In my opinion, it is likely to have been poisoning. Thank God he pulled through.

After what happened with Volodya, it finally became clear to me that life in Russia is unsafe. And not because of the name, but because of me publicly expressing my opinion on the causes of my Father's murder, the progress of the investigation, a drastic situation in Russia, which has developed thanks to the policy of President Putin.

I also strongly support the efforts of Mikhail Kasyanov to include in the EU and US sanctions list 8 propagandists (Oleg Dobrodeyev, Vladimir Kulistikov, Dmitry Kiselev, Vladimir Solovyov, Andrei Karaulov, Arkady Mamontov, Konstantin Syomin, Alexei Pushkov) who participated in the persecution of my Father. The criminal propaganda, which provokes people to acts of violence against those who are in the minority and work up the courage to go against this terrible trend, is extremely dangerous. It may even lead to aggression not controlled by the government.

- You would not reveal your location. How did you spend the last few months?

- I do not say where I live due to objective reasons: I travel a lot. After a while, most likely, I will settle in one place and will not hide my location.

I would like to continue to work as a journalist and I hope that I will succeed. Father was very proud of me working for the RBC, and I think that he wanted me to continue being a journalist. Also, I have been actively engaged in the creation of the Foundation named after Father: it requires some effort, too.

- You have announced that the fund named after your Father will 'ensure that Russia will become a state that respects the rights and freedoms provided by the Constitution of the Russian Federation.' Can you tell us how it will be done?

- You are absolutely correct in outlining the mission of the fund, and I hope that the fund will be able to contribute to the consolidation of Russia as a state of law. Only under this condition there can be progress. If lawlessness persists in Russia, there will be no investment; experts will leave the country. All this will eventually lead to the political, economic and cultural decline. Specific projects that could be implemented with the assistance of the Fund are now under discussion, thus, I cannot disclose the details.

- You had to leave work at the RBC TV where you worked for many years. Do you regret it?

- It was my own decision to resign from the RBC TV where I worked for more than 4 years. Such decisions are not easy, but I had no other choice, since I left Russia for an indefinite period. I liked my job a lot, the team (with many of them I still have warm and friendly relations). I gained invaluable experience and knowledge that help me a lot.

- Recently, newspaper Vedomosti published your article Propaganda Kills. Today, there are speculations about the ways to counter it. What is your opinion on this?

- I believe that the inclusion of propagandists in the black list of the EU and the United States is an effective tool, no matter what anyone says about it. All this bluster that they would survive without leaving the country is a hoax. The best example of the freedom of movement being a value is a draft statement of the State Duma demanding that sanctions against members of parliament of the Russian Federation be lifted.

The propagandists who call for violence against the opposition and the perception of the West as the aggressor should not be able to travel to free countries and enjoy the benefits that are provided because of the democratic system and a developed economy.

Once again: what they are doing is a crime, because their actions are aimed at inciting hatred and enmity and are to be criminally prosecuted even under the Russian Criminal Code. But in Russia they have complete impunity, they are presented with awards even, not only for Crimea. Russia's most prestigious television award TEFI was recently given, for example, to Dmitri Kiselev, who, incidentally, is already on the EU black list. Punishment may reach them only from the outside.

And most importantly: the mistake of the West here is that they appeal to the principle of freedom of speech. Propagandists cannot hide behind this, so they use criminal methods in many ways similar to those used in Rwanda. There was subsequently international tribunal on Rwanda.

The second thing that bothers many people is Putin's external propaganda, including the channel Russia Today, which receives generous public funding. But there are also a number of other promotional resources abroad. This, too, should be treated carefully. There are a number of ideas on the establishment of European TV or other media outlets in Russian (or several languages) that would objectively report on events in Russia and the world. I think it is a sensible idea.

- Threats against you are a proof of involvement in the murder of your Father. Basically, authorities should be interested in your safety.

- I think they do not care. Today, there is a propaganda machine working in Russia, the majority of Russians believe that Putin gains nothing from this murder. They do not care - they are in full control of the situation in the country, and Father's murder does not affect the trust rating. Eighty nine percent now support Putin. So much for relying on common sense in Russia.

Also, there is a huge number of nationalist organizations in the country, of people living with propaganda, who, despite some 'general line' can act how they see fit.

- Sometimes in the West we hear that it's supposedly "disadvantageous to Putin."

- Authoritarian rulers have always tended to destroy and haunt the opposition.

- What reaction do you expect from the West in response to the murder of your Father?

- The West certainly condemns my Father's murder and generally any kind of violence.

But overall, nothing in the country can be changed without breaking the public opinion. And while the majority of the population is in favor of Putin, the best decision would be the expansion of the sanctions list. Not large-scale economic sanctions that affect everyone, but personal list expansion, in particular the inclusion of propagandists. I hope that this will become a reality. There may also be adopted other measures, but it is too early to talk about it.

- If a country does not comply with international law, the world has the right to respond.

- Western countries act in a certain legal field, beyond which they will not go. And under the law, they do react: they impose economic and personal sanctions in connection with the annexation of Crimea and the war in the east of Ukraine. We should not expect and it would be fundamentally wrong for the West to follow the path of the countries that violate international law.

- How do you assess the investigation into your Father's murder?

- In general, I do not have much hope for this crime to be fully solved and for those involved to be punished. There is little hope, whoever leads the team of investigators and however professional it is. At the same time, I support the actions of my lawyers Vadim Mikhailov and Olga Prokhorova.

The investigation should feel that the victims, the public and the media or anyone at all are interested in the disclosure of the crime. Otherwise, there will be no progress.

- What do you think of the 'Chechen trace' in this case?

- 'Chechen trace' is where the thread is leading, therefore, it is necessary to unwind this ball. We cannot yet say where the 'Chechen trace' will eventually lead, given that, in my opinion, the main motive was the many years of political activities of my Father.

It is possible that a lot of different people with completely different motives are involved. That is why my lawyers will seek questioning of anyone who might be in some way involved, including the President of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov.

- In Belarus, too, opposition leaders were abducted and killed, and their families for many years would not allow the world to forget what happened. Are you willing to go this way?

- You are right, people have a short memory. I am doing all I can do within my abilities and strength. I do not know the results it will lead to. But I must do this.

This is life. Other children of the Father are still small or too young. But if we want the memory of Boris Nemtsov preserved - family members are the first to do this.

Of course, many people help. Activists who keep an eye on the Memorial on the Moskvoretsky bridge as well as in Nizhny Novgorod, all those who bring or send flowers. Those who come to the Troyekurov cemetery. Those who update my dad's memory pages in social networks are great people. Opposition leaders, who are trying to find a way to commemorate Father in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Yaroslavl and continue his work. I am immensely grateful to all.

I think that the new fund will be an important step in preserving the memory of Father and his activities.

- The ability to take a punch - does is run in the Nemtsov family?

- I have never been weak. But each person has their own threshold - how much they can endure. I cannot say what my threshold is. My father was very mentally strong, he could withstand high levels of stress.

- Everyone is talking about Nemtsov as a politician, the leader of the opposition. What was he like as a Father?

- My Father was a very responsible person. But, probably, every man appreciates personality in his children- so that there could be something they could talk about. He was always very warm to me, and we always talked. Perhaps there was something to talk about with me.

However, I liked that he gave us the freedom of choice, he did not put pressure on us - apparently, he trusted us in our decisions. And what's more - he did not spoil us. As a result, those of us who wanted, they became self-reliant people.

There are parents who watch over their children until the old age. My Father was not like that. On the contrary - he threw us into cold water. And so I am pretty good at coping with stress. But I cannot say that the children were his meaning of life. Because the meaning of his life was the embodiment of the ideals of freedom and democracy, in which he believed to his death.

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