Russia jails five Boris Nemtsov killers for sentences ranging up to 20 years

Putin critic's allies say investigation has been a cover-up and those who had ordered his killing remain at large

Convicts in the Nemtsov murder case smile while hearing the prosecutor's plea at the Moscow district military court, 12 July, 2017. (EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV)

Russia has jailed the killer of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov for 20 years, and handed four accomplices in the 2015 murder sentences ranging from 11 to 19 years.

Last month, the five men were found guilty of killing Mr Nemtsov in 2015.

But the late politician's allies said the investigation had been a cover-up and that the people who had ordered his killing remained at large.

Mr Nemtsov was walking with his girlfriend across the Bolshoy Moskovoretsky Bridge near the Kremlin when he was shot four times in the back with a pistol on 27 February, 2015.

His killer then sped off in a getaway car and Mr Nemtsov was pronounced dead at the scene.

Putin critic: Boris Nemtsov took a leading role in the opposition to the Kremlin’s policies (EPA)

Prosecutors had asked for Zaur Dadayev to be sentenced to life and it was not immediately clear why the judge chose the shorter term.

Dadayev was an officer in the security forces of Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov and allies have criticised investigators for not studying a possible role of Mr Kadyrov in the killing.

The other four Chechen men convicted of being Dadayev's accomplices received jail sentences ranging from 11 to 19 years.

"The shortcoming of this sentencing is that those who ordered and organised this crime are not in the dock," said Vadim Prokhorov, a lawyer for Nemtsov's daughter Zhanna.

State prosecutors said the group had followed Mr Nemtsov around the Russian capital and had been promised a bounty of 15 million roubles (£193,000) between them for the high-profile assassination.

Shamsudin Tsakayev, Dadayev's lawyer, told Reuters after the sentencing that there was "incontrovertible proof" that his client had not committed the crime.

Mr Nemtsov was a top opponent of President Vladimir Putin and the killing sent shockwaves through Russia's beleaguered opposition supporters.

Hours before his death, Mr Nemtsov denounced Vladimir Putin's policies as “mad, aggressive and deadly” and was scheduled to lead an anti-government Spring March protesting against the Kremlin’s alleged involvement in the violence in Ukraine.

He was also working on a report containing evidence he believed would prove Russia’s direct involvement in the separatist rebellion that has raged in eastern Ukraine since April 2014. Moscow has continually denied accusations it is supporting the rebels with troops and sophisticated weaponry.

However, Mr Putin’s spokesman called any suggestion of involvement “illogical” and “unacceptable” and analysts have questioned why the Russian President would order Mr Nemtsov's death while letting more prominent critics live.