On 13 March, Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Ella Pamfilova commented on the European Parliament’s resolution calling for an independent investigation into the murder of Boris Nemtsov. The MEPs note that "the murder is one of the unresolved politically motivated murders and suspicious deaths happened in Russia since 1998".

"I consider the resolution to be short-sighted and rather strange. In case we take the MEPs’ words that the democracy situation is directly connected with such tragedies as politically motivated crimes seriously, then how should we treat the fact that in the central Stockholm street Olof Palme was killed 29 year ago and that crime has not been solved yet? Is it as well a sign that democracy is not quite in order in the countries represented by the MEPs?" Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia Ella Pamfilova commented on the European Parliament’s resolution.

The Commissioner has noted that there is an impression that the EU colleagues "are just carried away by a „witch-hunt“ lately caused by a narrowed „sanctioned“ way of thinking". Instead of seeking for additional opportunities for a dialogue they are heading for a deadlock, the Commissioner believes.

"I believe that everyone in Russia is interested in solving the politically motivated murder. I believe we have enough strength, opportunities and control, including that of the mass media and human rights community, to have this murder solved; and no one is more interested in that than us — exactly in Russia itself", Ms Pamfilova underscored.