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Boris Nemtsov, 1959–2015: Seeking Justice, Securing His Legacy

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BORIS NEMTSOV, 1959–2015: SEEKING JUSTICE, SECURING HIS LEGACY HEARING BEFORE THE COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION FEBRUARY 28, 2018 Printed for the use of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe [CSCE 115–2–1] ( Available via www.csce.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 28–910PDF WASHINGTON : 2018 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:38 Apr 13, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 X:\_HS\WORK\28910.TXT NINA COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS HOUSE SENATE CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi, Co-Chairman Chairman ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland ROBERT B. ADERHOLT, Alabama JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas MICHAEL C. BURGESS, Texas CORY GARDNER, Colorado STEVE COHEN, Tennessee MARCO RUBIO, Florida RICHARD HUDSON, North Carolina JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois THOM TILLIS, North Carolina SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas TOM UDALL, New Mexico GWEN MOORE, Wisconsin SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island EXECUTIVE BRANCH COMMISSIONERS Vacant, Department of State Vacant, Department of Commerce Vacant, Department of Defense [II] VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:38 Apr 13, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0486 Sfmt 0486 X:\_HS\WORK\28910.TXT NINA BORIS NEMTSOV, 1959–2015: SEEKING JUSTICE, SECURING HIS LEGACY FEBRUARY 28, 2018 COMMISSIONERS Page Hon. Roger F. Wicker, Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ..................................................... 1 Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Ranking Member, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ................................. 2 Hon. Jeanne Shaheen, Commissioner, Commission on Secu- rity and Cooperation in Europe .............................................. 14 Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Co-Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe ...................................... 19 Hon. Cory Gardner, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe WITNESSES Zhanna Nemtsova, daughter of Boris Nemtsov ........................ 3 Vladimir Kara-Murza, Chairman, Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom .............................................................................. 5 Vadim Prokhorov, lawyer for the Nemtsov family ................... 7 APPENDIX Prepared statement of Hon. Roger F. Wicker ........................... 29 Prepared statement of Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin .................... 31 Prepared statement of Hon. Christopher H. Smith ................. 33 (III) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:38 Apr 13, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 0484 X:\_HS\WORK\28910.TXT NINA VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:38 Apr 13, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 0484 X:\_HS\WORK\28910.TXT NINA BORIS NEMTSOV, 1959–2015: SEEKING JUSTICE, SECURING HIS LEGACY February 28, 2018 COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE WASHINGTON, DC The hearing was held at 3:32 p.m. in Room 138, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC, Hon. Roger F. Wicker, Chairman, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, presiding. Commissioners present: Hon. Roger F. Wicker, Chairman, Com- mission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Ranking Member, Commission on Security and Coopera- tion in Europe; Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Co-Chairman, Commis- sion on Security and Cooperation in Europe; Hon. Jeanne Shaheen, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe; and Hon. Cory Gardner, Commissioner, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Witnesses present: Zhanna Nemtsova, daughter of Boris Nemtsov; Vladimir Kara-Murza, Chairman, Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom; and Vadim Prokhorov, lawyer for the Nemtsov family. HON. ROGER F. WICKER, CHAIRMAN, COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE Mr. WICKER. If it seems that Senator Cardin and I are rushing, it’s because we have a lot to do in an hour. Senator Cardin and I have a series of votes that begin at 4:30. I don’t know if any House members are expected today, but Senator Cardin and I will have some brief comments and then we’ll get to our witnesses. We’re turning our attention in today’s hearing to the loss of one of Russia’s great democratic reformers, Boris Nemtsov, who was gunned down within sight of the Kremlin three years ago yester- day. Although the triggermen were apprehended and tried for their crime, the masterminds behind it have never been identified. Our witnesses today are people who knew Boris Nemtsov well. I stood behind them yesterday at the ceremony to rename a section of Wis- consin Avenue as Boris Nemtsov Plaza. I am very pleased that this hearing will focus on the legacy of Boris Nemtsov as Russians pre- pare to cast their votes in another presidential election next month. We are honored to have his daughter, Ms. Zhanna Nemtsova, join us and reflect on her father’s work and the prospects for real- izing his dream of a free and democratic Russia. Ms. Nemtsova is joined by someone who is no stranger to members of the Helsinki Commission nor in the halls of Congress, thanks to his tireless and (1) VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:38 Apr 13, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 X:\_HS\WORK\28910.TXT NINA 2 courageous work for democracy in Russia. Mr. Vladimir Kara- Murza knows better than almost anyone about the intense and all- too-often lethal pressure being applied to brave Russians like him and Boris Nemtsov, who engage in opposition politics. Mr. Kara- Murza directed the documentary film, ‘‘Nemtsov,’’ a truly remark- able tribute to Boris, which opened in Nizhny Novgorod, and was screened in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Washington, where many people in the room had a chance to see it. We’re also very fortunate to have Mr. Vadim Prokhorov, the lawyer for the Nemtsov family, who’s worked for years now to see the masterminds of this heinous act brought to justice. As I mentioned, yesterday our witnesses participated in the nam- ing ceremony for the Boris Nemtsov Plaza. As an American, I’m proud that Washington held the very first such official memorial of Boris Nemtsov anywhere in the world. The Russian people should know that we will continue to build legislative monuments to their heroes here, until stone monuments can be built in Russia. Let me offer a word about the posters on display at the front of the room. They serve as a reminder that brave Russians have gath- ered on a regular basis to ask for justice for Boris Nemtsov. The photo of these flowers at the site of his murder could have been taken virtually any day in the past three years. Despite being re- moved every day the flowers are always replaced by the many peo- ple who revere the memory of Boris Nemtsov. I think these people deserve to be recognized for their devotion to democracy in Russia, and for their dedication to honoring one of Russia’s great demo- cratic leaders. I’ll place the rest of my statement in the record and recognize my colleague and dear friend Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland. Senator Cardin. HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, RANKING MEMBER, COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE Mr. CARDIN. Well, first, let me thank our Chairman, Senator Wicker, for calling this hearing. Senator Wicker’s been one of the great champions in the United States Senate on human rights. And we’re very proud of his leadership here on the Helsinki Commis- sion. And it’s very appropriate that we have this hearing in regards to Boris Nemtsov. I just really want to put this in context, Mr. Chairman, if I might. And that is, in Russia Mr. Putin uses an asymmetric arse- nal of weapons in order to control his country, to oppress his peo- ple, and to interfere with the democratic principles of countries in Europe, and, as we’ve seen, in the United States in our 2016 elec- tions. So this is a pattern of conduct. And I mentioned that we issued a report, and Damian Murphy of the Senate Foreign Rela- tions Committee is here. He spent a year of his life writing this re- port on Mr. Putin and what he does in Russia, and the tools that he uses to compromise our way of life. He uses his military. We know that. We saw that in Ukraine. We see that in Georgia and Moldova. He uses financing of fringe par- ties. We’ve seen that in several countries, including France, financ- ing a coup in Montenegro, cyberattacks in the United States, mis- information in Germany and the U.K., support for fringe groups, VerDate 0ct 09 2002 10:38 Apr 13, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 X:\_HS\WORK\28910.TXT NINA 3 including corruption—he uses corruption of his oligarchs in Russia in order to finance his own operations, but then gets involved in corrupt enterprises in other countries, as has been documented in Italy and elsewhere, uses energy as a tool, which we saw, again, in Ukraine. I mention all that because he also uses murder. He also uses in- timidation against his own people. And Boris Nemtsov was a victim of that violence. And it’s very appropriate that we have this hear- ing. Mr. Chairman, I recall how Boris joined me for the screening of ‘‘Justice for Sergei’’ in November 2010, and almost immediately after was assaulted at the airport upon returning to Russia. He helped us in getting justice for Sergei Magnitsky, who was also a victim of Mr. Putin’s violence in Russia. So this is not an isolated example. We have not yet had justice for Mr. Nemtsov. We know that the gunman who shot four bullets into Mr.
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