Europarliament resolution demands release of Estonian security official

Photo: TASS / Scanpix

In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the European Parliament said the murder of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov calls for an independent international investigation and condemned the abduction of Estonian police officer Eston Kohver from Estonian territory to Russia, calling for his immediate release.

Strongly condemning the killing of Boris Nemtsov as the most significant political murder in recent Russian history," the non-legislative resolution calls on the authorities of the Russian Federation "to stop the shameful propaganda and information war against its neighbors, the Western world and its own people, which is turning Russia into a state characterized by repression, hate speech and fear, where nationalist euphoria is built on the annexation of Crimea and an escalating war in Ukraine."

Saying that Boris Nemtsov was a strong advocate for a modern, prosperous and democratic Russian Federation, open to the world, members of the European Parliament paid tribute to Nemtsov, extended their deepest condolences to his family and friends, members of the opposition and the Russian people, and condemned the Russian leadership's decision to prevent some EU diplomats and national delegations from attending his funeral, thereby impeding the EU's attempt to pay tribute to brave Russian citizens standing for universal values.

The resolution also calls the Russian authorities to quickly release the abducted Estonian security official Eston Kohver and jailed Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko.

The European Parliament said it deplores the fact that recent developments show Russia as having moved in a direction contrary to that of a functioning democracy, which includes respect for the opposition, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, and reiterates its concern, as expressed in its previous resolutions, regarding the Russian authorities' failure to cooperate with the independent and international investigation into the shooting down of flight MH17.

The European Parliament also expressed its support for democratic forces in Russia, which are committed to an open society and a reformist agenda.