The murder of Russian Opposition politician Boris Nemtsov last Friday, which took place just a stone’s throw away from the Kremlin, has sent shock waves throughout Russia and Europe.
Mr Nemtsov joins a list of politicians, journalists and human rights activists, all critical of Vladimir Putin, who have been assassinated over the past years.
These killings represent a worrying trend in Russia ever since Mr Putin took office. It is not surprising that former British prime minister John Major, who was in Moscow to pay his respect, said this was his saddest ever visit to Moscow.
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, meanwhile, said the murder showed that Russia was “sliding down to the darkness of terror against its own people”.
There is little doubt that the Russian President has moved his country along an authoritarian path and presided over political violence, a crackdown on the Opposition and the independent media and an erosion of human rights and democratic values. Mr Putin’s political opponents are often labelled “enemies” or “foreign agents” – a theme often repeated on State television – leading to a climate of fear and hatred.
Mr Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister who campaigned tirelessly against corruption and the war in Ukraine – and was subsequently denounced as a traitor on State television – is the most high profile of anti-Putin figures to have been assassinated.
His killing leaves the Russian Opposition with a void that will be difficult to fill and represents a new low point in the country’s political evolution.
Only last month, Mr Nemtsov gave a media interview admitting he feared for his life because of his opposition to Mr Putin. His murder, in fact, took place less than two days before he was due to take part in a protest against Russian involvement in the war in Ukraine. He was, nevertheless, a brave Russian patriot who campaigned hard for a better and different Russia and was consequently often arrested.
Despite the difficult situation in Russia, however, as well the conflict in Ukraine, the West should not turn its back on Moscow, nor should it give up hope that the country will, one day, transform itself into a democracy.
Both the EU and the US – where Russia’s democrats look for support and inspiration – should continue to engage with the Russian people, civil society and NGOs and pledge support for proponents of democratic values.
Engagement, of course, must also continue with the regime in the Kremlin – Russia is too important a country to be ignored or isolated. Washington and Brussels need to analyse to what extent sanctions against Moscow have been effective to stop its aggression towards Ukraine. Constructive engagement with Russia remains the best policy, even though this might, at times, appear to be a waste of time considering the manner in which things have evolved in Mr Putin’s Russia.
It is important that what Mr Nemtsov stood for – a peaceful and liberal Russia – is not forgotten. Russia has the potential to play a very important and constructive role on the international scene and this is what the West should be aiming at. Mr Putin has condemned Mr Nemtsov’s killing and promised a full investigation into the murder.
While the country’s law authorities have a poor record in solving such cases, the international community should continue to insist that not only are the murderers brought to justice but those behind the killings are also caught and punished.
Don’t hold your breath though.