Collecting the photos and videos of the murder of Russian politician Nemtsov, Belsat TV has invited an expert to examine them and comment on the course of the investigation. Our guest is Andrzej Mroczek from the Centre for Terrorism Research (Collegium Civitas, Warsaw), a former detective of the department for combating criminal terror and murder.
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Secrecy of Tracking
Andrzej Mroczek believes that it is Nemtsov’s figure that should be taken into account when one investigates his case. He was not an ordinary citizen and not a mafioso, who could be killed by his partners in crime. What happened to Nemtsov had features of a special operation, which was committed at least with the privity of Russian secret services, or even with their direct participation.
“It is undisputable that on the day before the protest rally in downtown Moscow opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was under constant surveillance by the security services,” Mroczek says. “They must have seen the perpetrators.”
How many groups followed Nemtsov?
If we assume the murder was committed by a group that was more or less ‘independent’ from the FSB, their certainty and precision impresses greatly. Andrzej Mroczek has no doubt that the killer(s) tapped the phone of the victim.
“They needed to know where he was and in what direction he would be moving. Indeed, after a speech on the radio he could take a taxi to go home. The killer had followed Nemtsov and his companion by the time when they went to the restaurant.
The killer wanted to know when they were going out and what they were doing: getting into a taxi or going on foot. At that moment, the performers must have had to split up. When they saw that Nemtsov decided to walk, two or one must have followed him, while the rest were staying in the car. They were supposed to foresee an option that Nemtsov could return home in a taxi. In this case they would have followed and killed him anywhere else.”
But another group, from the FSB, also must have had an eye on Nemtsov. They could not help noticing that someone was watching their ‘object’ too.
What are secret agents expected to do it this case?
“They should inform their centre, coordinators who are to take steps to identify and neutralise the other group. No ‘competition’ is possible in such a field.
But if ‘competitors’ follow ‘an object’ with the consent or help of the Federal Security Service, it makes all the difference.”
FSB’s Eyes Wide Shut
Nemtsov was killed practically at the walls of the Kremlin.
Russian media reported that Nemtsov’s movements had been studied since morning, and this information seems to be plausible. Nemtsov was one of the most prominent opposition leaders, a mass rally was being prepared.
“According to the standards, several persons were involved in conducting surveillance of Nemtsov. The ‘minimum’ is that one person walks close [to Nemtsov]; two other people follow, and each of the two replace with the first from time to time. These agents were supposed to be on the bridge at the moment of shooting, at least ‘person No 1’ must have seen the murder and the murderer. A car with a driver and two agents should also have been on the scene – just in case Nemtsov had got into a taxi. And another agent might have been on the other side of the road, because, according to the rules, cross surveillance is much more effective.”
Two passers-by who were following Nemtsov are seen on the video (00:39). They could have been the agents of the FSB.
What should they have done when they saw that Nemtsov was shot? To chase after the criminal?
“During the covert tracking the main task is watching. However, when such situation happen, it is necessary not only to report what is going on. One of them should have run to Nemtsov and provide him first aid. Others should have tried to stop or after the killer. I stress: they should have intervened despite the fact that it was a secret surveillance.
As you know, they failed to catch them in a hot pursuit. It means that a FSB group was ordered not to interfere, or … there was no group on the scene at all. The FSB could suspend watching Nemtsov for the time of this ‘operation’. And such a decision must have been coordinated with the murderers.”
Andrzej Mroczek draws attention to the place where they killed Nemtsov: “This quarter near the Kremlin must have been full of the police and security services, including plaincloth agents. In the run-up of a mass opposition rally in the centre of the capital, these services were working under enhanced security regime. Even before the rally they were expected to keep an eye on suspicious activities and events, especially at night. The fact that they failed to notice the moment of shooting, the killer fled, and the police arrived at the scene within 10 minutes is nonsense”.
Non-accidental Accidence
“One cannot but pay attention to a snow remover, which ‘accidentally’ appeared at the moment of the murder. But I do not believe in such coincidences. Not to arouse suspicions security service often use this kind of disguise. This machine could have been driven by an agent.”
The number of ‘accidents’ is indicative of the complexity and high level of organisation and coordination. A snow blower comes to the road, when there is no snow, and turns on its equipment, which stifles shots. It prevents surveillance cameras from filming the murder scene.
“If cleaning equipment was turned on, the driver was not able to hear the shots or cries. Why did he stop? Did he see in the mirror that someone was lying on the ground? If he was cleaning the road, he must have been concentrated on what was happening in front of the vehicle. And why did he just call the police and depart when [Nemtsov’s companion] Duritskaya came running and asked for help?”
After delivering a short interview, the man whom the Russian state-run media call ‘a special vehicles driver’ quit his job and left Moscow. His colleagues say that they work in Moscow in shifts: two weeks in their home city, and two weeks in the capital.
‘It was the prof who shot Nemtsov down’
Nemtsov was shot at close range.
“If an unprepared person, amateur, shot in such circumstances, Nemtsov’s companion would have definitely been wounded as well. Even a person who knows how to deal with arm, but not a professional is not able to do this flawlessly. He should act quickly. A killer is focused on shooting and leaving the scene of the crime as soon as possible.”
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“As for the body and the scene, I wonder why the body was taken away so quickly… Within an hour the body was taken away, the blood was washed off and the inspection was finished. This goes beyond all the standards when it comes to viewing the scene of the crime. An hour is not enough to precisely examine the body and the scene.
It is noteworthy that people were not carrying special boot covers, which are crucial during such inspections, as, for example, cartridge cases can be stick (consciously or not) into soles.”
Photos and videos of the dead body do not provide any accurate information of the nature of the wounds.
Kadyrov’s Scent
Andrzej Mroczek rejects a ‘religious’version of the murder.
“Natives of Chechnya could commit this crime, but not for religious reasons. Chechnya does not reached such level of radicalism yet. And if the killer was a former commando of Kadyrov, I do not believe that Kadyrov did not control him. And Ido not believe that Kadyrov’s group was able to defiantly kill an opposition leader near the Kremlin in Moscow without the knowledge or consent of the security services. Any other murderer, not connected to the services, did not dare to kill at the place full of police and agents.”
Perhaps, the Kremlin did not directly order to kill Nemtsov. Sometimes a phrase or hint is enough for Kadyrov to react. But we’ll never know it unless Kadyrov confesses to it. Even performers may not know who gave the primary order.
Zmitser Yahorau/MS
