Russia holds two more suspects over Nemtsov killing

Russian police have arrested another two men over the killing of opposition activist Boris Nemtsov, bringing the number held to four. Both of the men are from neighbouring Chechnya in the volatile northern Caucasus. A fifth man was killed in a standoff with police in the Chechen capital late on Saturday, a Chechen law enforcement told Russia’s Interfax news agency. The agency said when police arrived at an apartment block, the man threw one grenade at officers and then blew himself up with a second. One of the arrested men is the younger brother of Anzor Gubashev, who was arrested alongside Zaur Dadayev on Saturday.

Dadayev served for around 10 years in the “Sever” [police] battalion of Chechnya’s interior ministry.

Russian state-controlled news agencies quoting Albert Barakhayev, Security Council secretary in the neighbouring Ingushetia region

No information has emerged as to the possible motive the men could have had in killing the charismatic opposition leader. The suspects were due to appear in court in central Moscow on Sunday, where security had been stepped up, to determine whether to extend their detention, a spokeswoman for the court Anna Fadayeva said. It was not clear if all four men would be appearing. Nemstov’s allies believe his assassination was a hit ordered by the top levels of Putin’s government. The allegation has been strenuously denied.

Nemstov Europe