Former Deputy Prime Minister in Putin‘s government Alexey Kudrin, who knew Nemtsov well, told RIA Novosti that „Nemtsov‘s murder is a terrible tragedy for Russia, and the investigation must be completed at all costs.“

The shooting came two hours after Nemtsov gave an interview to the Echo of Moscow radio station about a demonstration planned for March 1. Co-chair of the RPR-PARNAS party Mikhail Kasyanov announced early Saturday that the march was cancelled because of Nemtsov‘s death.