Ilya Yashin: Kremlin Secret Services Involved In Sheremet’s Murder

The Russian oppositionist drew parallels between the murder of Boris Nemtsov and Pavel Sheremet.

One of the Russian opposition leaders, deputy chairman of the People's Freedom Party (Parnas), Ilya Yashin answered to charter97.org questions.

– Ilya, there are several issues to be discussed. Today, the trial on Boris Nemtsov's murder has started. What do you expect from this trial?

– I expect the perpetrators of the murder to be brought to justice and punished. I think there is every chance for it. Although it is possible to predict complexities, if the decision is taken by a trial jury. There is a possibility that the assassinators, as well as the murder organizers, who are still at large, will organize very strong pressure on the jury. Therefore, law enforcement authorities should do everything to protect these people.

This question is not quite trivial, the pressure will certainly be there, and these things need to be taken into account, because the people behind Nemtsov’s murder just revel in their own impunity and understand that they will carry no responsibility.

– It is obvious that we will not know Nemtsov's murder organizers’ names yet.

– Yes, organizers and sponsors will not be held to account in the near future.

However, the performers are behind bars, and it is very important that the case goes to its logical ending – a sentence.

Of course, we will do everything to ensure that all the people who are related to the crime (those who are on the wanted list and those who have not even been questioned), found themselves in the dock, but must take the first important step and get the performers sentenced.

– You came back from Pavel Sheremet’s funeral in Minsk yesterday, a good friend of Boris Nemtsov’s. What do you think, is there a connection between these two murders?

– In my opinion, there is no direct connection, but in respect of the symbolism these murders have certain parallels. Moscow and Kiev murders were terrorist attacks per se. What is a terrorist act? It’s a demonstrative murder, massacre, which aims to intimidate society.

Boris Nemtsov’s murder was quite a clear message to those people who criticize and oppose the policies of Putin in the Kremlin, who take part in opposition marches, distribute opposition materials.

It seems to me that one of Pavel Sheremet's murder’s goals is to intimidate those Russian citizens who move to Ukraine and continue to be engaged in independent journalism and opposition activities against Russian authorities, and believe that, after moving to Kiev, they can feel safe . It is a message that a Putin's opponent can not only be shot in Moscow, but also blown up in Kiev.

– So are you inclined to the version that Russian special services may be involved in Sheremet’s murder?

– I believe that this is the key version, which should be focused on. I have carefully studied the versions that have been pronounced by the Ukrainian side, and it seems to me that none of them hold water. Except for the version of Kremlin security services’ involvement in the murder.

– Today the newspaper Izvestia wrote that the Russian Ministry of Justice is preparing a bill according to which debtors will not be able to leave the country via Belarus and Kazakhstan. Do not you think that it is aimed primarily against the Russian opposition?

– I do not think that it is aimed against the opposition. The trend is absolutely the opposite. The opposition is squeezed out of the country, as it used to be in Belarus. As for leaving the country, the system is running very fast. Those people, who want to leave, do not face any considerable obstacles.

If you decide to leave the country, you will be helped and even get accelerated. The legislative system and the law enforcement agencies tend to encourage the emigration outflow of those, who do not agree with Putin's policies, from Russia.

In this respect, Putin has taken over Lukashenka’s experience. The same thing happened in Belarus, and now your opposition ranks have greatly thinned out. I noticed that during my visit to Minsk. Many people have been forced to leave, fearing for their lives and health.

This is not so obvious in Russia, but the trend is absolutely the same.

– Speaking of Lukashenka. Belarusian state media and the government have completely ignored Pavel Sheremet’s murder...

– Lukashenka is a petty, vindictive and spiteful person. There aren’t any reasons to expect his generosity towards an enemy, who is dead.

As far as I know, there were great difficulties in organizing the funeral. Sheremet was deprived of Belarusian citizenship, and only after the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko’s telephone conversation with Lukashenka, the Belarusian authorities agreed to meet halfway and gave the permission to bury Pavel next to his father’s grave in Minsk.