The investigation into the killing of Boris Nemtsov, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin who was gunned down not far from the Kremlin, faced conflicting reports Monday about possible surveillance footage of his slaying.
No suspects have been arrested since Nemtsov was shot dead Friday night on a Moscow bridge, a slaying that came just hours after a radio interview in which he denounced Putin's "mad, aggressive policy" in Ukraine. According to Russian investigators, Nemtsov was walking near the Kremlin on his way home with a woman when he was shot four times by an assailant, who escaped in a light-colored car.
It was not clear what CCTV footage may have captured his slaying, even though the area is one of the most highly secure parts of the Russian capital.
The business daily newspaper Kommersant quoted anonymous sources in the Interior Ministry as saying there was no CCTV footage of his murder because the cameras in question were not working at the time of the incident.
However, Yelena Novikova, a spokeswoman for Moscow's information technology department, which oversees surveillance cameras in the city, said Monday that all cameras "belonging to the city" were operating correctly on the night of Nemtsov's death. She said federal authorities also had surveillance cameras near the Kremlin that are not under her organization's control.
The failure to dig up CCTV footage in such a public place as central Moscow has deepened the frustration of those who supported Nemtsov, many of whom believe the government is responsible for his killing.
Investigators said they are looking into several possible motives and have offered 3 million rubles (nearly $50,000) for information about the slaying so far there have been few leads.
On Monday, France's foreign minister called Nemtsov's killing an "assassination that was revolting," and called for a serious investigation into the crime. Laurent Fabius told BFM television that Nemtsov's killing "raises a series of questions." He insisted on a thorough investigation but would not comment on whether he thought Russian authorities' efforts would be sufficient.
Noting killings of other Russian opposition figures in the past, Fabius said, "The fact is that it is not good to be an opposition figure in Russia."
Meanwhile, TV Center, a station controlled by the Moscow city government, broadcast a poor-resolution video from one of its web cameras that it said shows Nemtsov and his date shortly before the killing.
The station, which superimposed its own time code on the footage, circled figures that it said were Nemtsov and the woman walking across the bridge on a rainy night. A vehicle that TVC identified as a snowplow moved slowly behind the couple, obscuring the view of the shooting. TV Center then circled what it said was the suspected killer jumping into a passing car.
The authenticity of the video could not be independently confirmed.
Tens of thousands turned out Sunday to march through central Moscow in silent tribute to Nemtsov, while other supporters mourned him in St. Petersburg. His supporters, friends and family are now gearing up for his funeral, which will be held Tuesday at a human rights center in Moscow.
Prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny requested to be released early from prison so that he could attend the funeral. Navalny was sentenced on Feb. 20 to 15 days in custody for handing out leaflets for an upcoming protest, which was also organized by Nemtsov.
No suspects have been arrested since Nemtsov was shot dead Friday night on a Moscow bridge, a slaying that came just hours after a radio interview in which he denounced Putin's "mad, aggressive policy" in Ukraine. According to Russian investigators, Nemtsov was walking near the Kremlin on his way home with a woman when he was shot four times by an assailant, who escaped in a light-colored car.
It was not clear what CCTV footage may have captured his slaying, even though the area is one of the most highly secure parts of the Russian capital.
The business daily newspaper Kommersant quoted anonymous sources in the Interior Ministry as saying there was no CCTV footage of his murder because the cameras in question were not working at the time of the incident.
However, Yelena Novikova, a spokeswoman for Moscow's information technology department, which oversees surveillance cameras in the city, said Monday that all cameras "belonging to the city" were operating correctly on the night of Nemtsov's death. She said federal authorities also had surveillance cameras near the Kremlin that are not under her organization's control.
The failure to dig up CCTV footage in such a public place as central Moscow has deepened the frustration of those who supported Nemtsov, many of whom believe the government is responsible for his killing.
Investigators said they are looking into several possible motives and have offered 3 million rubles (nearly $50,000) for information about the slaying so far there have been few leads.
On Monday, France's foreign minister called Nemtsov's killing an "assassination that was revolting," and called for a serious investigation into the crime. Laurent Fabius told BFM television that Nemtsov's killing "raises a series of questions." He insisted on a thorough investigation but would not comment on whether he thought Russian authorities' efforts would be sufficient.
Noting killings of other Russian opposition figures in the past, Fabius said, "The fact is that it is not good to be an opposition figure in Russia."
Meanwhile, TV Center, a station controlled by the Moscow city government, broadcast a poor-resolution video from one of its web cameras that it said shows Nemtsov and his date shortly before the killing.
The station, which superimposed its own time code on the footage, circled figures that it said were Nemtsov and the woman walking across the bridge on a rainy night. A vehicle that TVC identified as a snowplow moved slowly behind the couple, obscuring the view of the shooting. TV Center then circled what it said was the suspected killer jumping into a passing car.
The authenticity of the video could not be independently confirmed.
Tens of thousands turned out Sunday to march through central Moscow in silent tribute to Nemtsov, while other supporters mourned him in St. Petersburg. His supporters, friends and family are now gearing up for his funeral, which will be held Tuesday at a human rights center in Moscow.
Prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny requested to be released early from prison so that he could attend the funeral. Navalny was sentenced on Feb. 20 to 15 days in custody for handing out leaflets for an upcoming protest, which was also organized by Nemtsov.
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