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Boris Nemtsov murder in Moscow

Two possible witnesses of politician Nemtsov’s murder not found — prosecutor

Boris Nemtsov, former deputy prime minister under then-President Boris Yeltsin, was gunned down in downtown Moscow on February 27, 2015

MOSCOW, December 6. /TASS/. Investigators have failed to find two witnesses who were on the Big Moskvoretsky Bridge last year at the time of politician Boris Nemtsov’s murder, prosecutor Maria Semenenko said in the Moscow District Military Court on Tuesday.

The court is hearing the Nemtsov murder case.

Boris Nemtsov murder in Moscow

The prosecutor made this statement after the counsel for the defense made claims to the prosecutors that they had failed to summon these witnesses. The counsel for the defense asked the court to take measures to ensure the questioning of these witnesses.

"The prosecution said it was searching for missing witness Sergei Budnikov. If the counsel for the defense finds him, we’ll be very grateful and will question him," the state prosecutor said.

Budnikov worked as the driver of a snow plough on the bridge at the time of Nemtsov’s murder. Nemtsov’s girlfriend Anna Duritskaya immediately ran up to the driver asking him to call the police after the fatal shots were fired.

The second witness whom the state prosecution has failed to find is a passer-by who saw a white car with suspected criminals driving away from the Big Moskvoretsky Bridge.

The court earlier agreed to summon former deputy commander of "Sever" battalion Ruslan Geremeyev and his nephew Artur Geremeyev for questioning as witnesses. At the same time, the Moscow District Military Court refused to summon Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov for questioning as a witness.

Nemtsov, former deputy prime minister under then-President Boris Yeltsin, co-chairman of the Parnas party and lawmaker of the Yaroslavl regional legislature, was gunned down in downtown Moscow on February 27, 2015. Five persons were arrested on March 8 last year on suspicion of murdering the politician: Zaur Dadayev, Anzor and Shadid Gubashev, Tamerlan Eskerkhanov and Khamzat Bakhayev.

The accused persons are denying their complicity in Nemtsov’s murder. The term of their arrest has been extended until December 30.

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