Convicted Nemtsov Assassin Freed for Ukraine Combat, Sparks Outrage

In a controversial development, Tamerlan Eskerkhanov, one of the individuals convicted in the assassination of Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, has been discharged from prison. This release, occurring approximately 9 years and 5 months after Nemtsov's death, is contingent on Eskerkhanov's agreement to participate in military operations in Ukraine.

Boris Nemtsov, a prominent physicist and politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister under President Boris Yeltsin from 1997 to 1998, was fatally shot on February 27, 2015. The incident took place on the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge in Moscow, mere days before Nemtsov was scheduled to lead an opposition rally. At the time of his death, Nemtsov was working on a report detailing Russian military involvement in Ukraine.

In 2017, a Russian court convicted five individuals for their roles in Nemtsov's murder, with sentences ranging from 11 to 20 years. Eskerkhanov, found guilty as an accomplice, received a 14-year sentence. According to reports from state-run news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti, Eskerkhanov entered into a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry in March 2024, leading to his pardon and subsequent release.

A source from law enforcement agencies, as cited by TASS, stated: "He went to one of the assault units and is now carrying out combat missions in the special military operation zone." The source also noted that other convicts in the Nemtsov case remain incarcerated due to their refusal to sign similar military contracts.

This decision has elicited strong reactions. Ilya Yashin, Nemtsov's former spokesman who was recently part of a high-profile prisoner exchange, described Eskerkhanov's release as "scorn for memory of my dead friend."

The release of Eskerkhanov is part of a broader strategy employed by Russian authorities to bolster their military forces in Ukraine. Tens of thousands of Russian prisoners have volunteered for military service, motivated by the prospect of clemency upon completion of their frontline duties.

This recruitment tactic was initially pioneered by the Wagner mercenary group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. Following Prigozhin's death in a plane crash in August 2023, which occurred after a failed mutiny against Russia's military leadership, the Russian Defense Ministry has continued this practice. They have formed Storm-Z units, partially composed of convict volunteers recruited directly from prisons.

Nemtsov's assassination and its aftermath have left a lasting impact on Russian politics. The site of his murder has become an unofficial memorial, and he was posthumously awarded the Sergei Magnitsky Human Rights Award. As a co-chair of the Republican Party of Russia – People's Freedom Party and a former Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Nemtsov was known for his advocacy of economic reforms and anti-corruption measures.

The release of one of his convicted killers for military service has reignited discussions about justice, political opposition, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

"Scorn for memory of my dead friend."