PACE Collects Signatures to Initiate Investigation into Nemtsov's Murder
The deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) have begun collecting signatures to initiate a further investigation into the murder of a Russian opposition leader, co-chairman of the RPR-PARNAS, Boris Nemtsov. This was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the Alliance of European Liberal Democrats in PACE, Swedish MP Kerstin Lundgren, in an interview with Voice of America.
She indicated that the collection of signatures is almost completed. According to procedure, in order for the PACE to address this decision, the initiative must be supported by at least 20 deputies from at least five national delegations.
After the collection of signatures is completed, the draft resolution will be discussed at the Bureau of the Assembly, then it will be sent to the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights. If the Bureau and the Committee approve the initiative, PACE will appoint a special rapporteur, who will be tasked with the preparation of the report. According to Lundgren, the creation of this report "sheds light on the circumstances of the murder of Boris Nemtsov." Upon completion, the report will be submitted for approval by the plenary session of PACE.
PACE received a request for an independent investigation into the murder of Boris Nemtsov from his daughter, Jeanne Nemtsova. Speaking at the Assembly round table at the start of PACE winter session on January 25th in Strasbourg, she said that an effective investigation in Russia hasn't been carried out and that such an investigation is needed so that similar tragedies in the future can be prevented.
The request by Jeanne Nemtsova was also supported by the PARNAS party chairman, former Russian Prime Minister, Mikhail Kasyanov, who is in Strasbourg this week, and coordinator of Open Russia, Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr.