Boris Nemtsov murder: Chechen suspect Zaur Dadaïev admits to killing Russian opposition leader

One of the men charged with the murder of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov has confessed to a role in the killing at a Moscow court hearing on 8 March, 2015. Judge Nataliya Mushnikova said that Zaur Dadaïev had admitted his guilt, according to reports from Sputnik citing state news agency RIA Novosti.

Dadaïev is one of five people arrested in connection with the murder of Putin critic Nemtsov, who was gunned down on a Moscow bridge within sight of the Kremlin on 27 February, 2015, while strolling home with his girlfriend.

Anzor Gubashev who is also charged with the killing, along with his brother Shagid Gubashev, Ramzan Bakhayev and Tamerlan Eskerkhanov all maintain their innocence, reports the agency. The judge ruled that all of the men should be remanded in custody, and investigators claim that witness testimony and other evidence points to their involvement in the crime.

Another man police linked with the killing blew himself up with a hand grenade in Chechnyan capital Grozny when police attempted to arrest him on 8 March, reports Moscow Times.

Dadaev served for 10 years in a police battalion in Chechnya, while Gubashev worked as a security guard in Moscow, Ingush Security Council chief Albert Barakhoev told RIA Novosti. He said that the pair had been arrested in Ingushtia. No details have been released of the alleged role the men played in the crime.

Nemtsov supporters allege that the Russian government was behind the murder, but the Kremlin strongly denies involvement, and claims the murder was an attempt to destabilise the country. Nemtsov was working on a report at the time of his death allegedly proving Russian instigation of violent unrest in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Moscow militias are battling Ukrainian government forces.