All news

Witness of Russian politician’s murder back in Kiev, ready to help Moscow probe — lawyer

According to the lawyer, Anna Duritskaya is ready to continue providing voluntary assistance to the investigators probing the murder of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov
The crime site on the Moskvoretsky bridge in Moscow EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY
The crime site on the Moskvoretsky bridge in Moscow
© EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY

MOSCOW, March 3. /TASS/. Anna Duritskaya, a Ukrainian model who was with Russian politician Boris Nemtsov when he was shot in Moscow on February 27, was released by the Russian investigative authorities on Monday, her lawyer has said.

"At the moment, the investigative activities in her regard have been completed. Anna left for Kiev already yesterday," lawyer Vadim Prokhorov told TASS.

He reminded that his client has taken an active and voluntary part in the investigative actions and is ready to continue providing voluntary assistance to the investigators.

"If there are any real investigative activities that can help the probe, of course she is ready to come," the lawyer said.

Duritskaya, 23, who was involved with the slain Russian politician and is the key witness in the shocking murder, said she is in a difficult mental condition and is trying to come to her senses.

The woman plans to stay with her mother who is "just beginning to come out of hysterics."

Russia’s Investigative Committee official spokesman Vladimir Markin confirmed on Tuesday that the Ukrainian model is ready to cooperate with Russia’s investigative authorities.

Duritskaya on Monday told the Dozhd TV channel that investigators thought it wasn't safe for her to return to Ukraine.

The witness noted that she does not remember the night of Nemtsov’s killing well. However, "the murderer stood behind" them and he shot Nemtsov in the back. When the politician fell, Duritskaya ran to a snowplow driver for help and called the police. Law enforcers arrived in 10 minutes.

Duritskaya said she does not remember what happened before the police came.

She also said she rules out jealousy was the motive of  the prominent politician's murder.

Russian opposition and state figure Boris Nemtsov was shot dead in downtown Moscow overnight to February 28 with four shots from a handgun.

According to preliminary data, an unknown assailant made a few shots at Nemtsov when the latter was walking along the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge.