President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves following the murder of an influential Russian opposition leader, Boris Nemtsov

28.02.2015

I am shocked by the news that last night in front of the Kremlin opposition leader Boris Nemtsov former the Deputy Prime Minister of President Yeltsin, was callously murdered.

I personally knew Boris for a long time, he often visited Estonia and was a great admirer of Estonia's reforms, especially of those related to the rule of law, whose implementation he considered to be the most important prerequisite for creation of democracy in Russia. Most recently we met in Sweden in last October, where we discussed the war in Ukraine and its larger implications. He was about to publish a study on the realities of the war in Ukraine.

I mourn a great friend of Estonia and of mine, a great democrat and a courageous fighter for freedom. My deepest condolences go to his family and to everyone who supported and shared Boris Nemtsov's aspirations for democracy.

Statements

President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves following the murder of an influential Russian opposition leader, Boris Nemtsov