In a controversial move, Chechen Temirlan Eskerkhanov, convicted in the assassination of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov, has been pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Eskerkhanov will now join Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, sparking outrage from opposition politicians and Nemtsov’s supporters. Eskerkhanov, along with four other men involved in the killing, had the opportunity to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense, but only he accepted and was released from prison to join a special military unit. Putin’s decision to pardon Eskerkhanov and send him to Ukraine has been condemned as a betrayal of Nemtsov’s memory and a continuation of Russian aggression.
Nemtsov was murdered in 2015, and while the perpetrators were convicted, the masterminds behind the killing remain unidentified. Many, including opposition politician Ilya Yashin and Nemtsov’s family lawyer Vadim Prokorov, believe Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov is responsible for ordering the assassination. The release of Eskerkhanov to participate in the conflict in Ukraine has reignited concerns about Russian involvement in the region.
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