The in absentia arrest warrant issued by the Moscow City Court for Zhanna Nemtsova, who lives in Europe, took effect after the defense appeal was rejected.
The decision came after an appeal against the lower court’s in absentia detention order issued on July 31. The judge rejected the defense’s appeal and announced that an arrest warrant had been issued for Nemtsova.
Nemtsova, the daughter of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov, is accused of organizing the activities of an “undesirable” organization. The maximum sentence for the offense is six years in prison.
Germany-based foundation
Nemtsova said the charges stemmed from her work with the Germany-based Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom. Established in November 2015, the foundation supports independent journalism and provides training grants and scholarships to activists and journalists.
Russian authorities designated the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom as an “undesirable” organization in 2024.
The murder of Boris Nemtsov
Boris Nemtsov was killed in an armed attack near the Kremlin in February 2015. Once regarded as Boris Yeltsin’s successor, Nemtsov later became one of Vladimir Putin’s most prominent opponents.
Five people were convicted in the case concerning Nemtsov’s murder. His family and supporters maintain that the organizers behind the killing have not been brought to justice.