Russian Presidential Adviser Plans to Visit Nemtsov Murder Suspects

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian Presidential Adviser and Chairman of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights Mikhail Fedotov plans to visit the suspects in the Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov murder case on Friday.

Fedotov is waiting for an official permission for visit from the Investigative Committee, along with National Anti-Corruption Committee Chairman Kirill Kabanov.

Nemtsov, who served as Russia's deputy prime minister in late 1990's and later became one of the leaders of the country's opposition, was fatally shot on February 27. Five suspects in the case have been arrested: Ramzan Bakhayev, Tamerlan Eskerkhanov, Shagit and Anzor Gubashev and Zaur Dadayev.

Dadayev, who, according to a spokesman for the Security Council of Russia's Republic of Ingushetia, had served as deputy commander of a unit of the Chechen Republic Ministry of Internal Affairs's "Sever" battalion, was the only one to plead guilty. However on Wednesday, Dadayev withdrew his plea after the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights suggested his confession was made under duress.

Earlier this week, Russian media reported of a possible use of torture against the suspects in the Nemtsov case. Dadayev's attorney refuted the claims on Thursday following which the Council for human rights asked the Investigative Committee and the prosecutor general to look into allegations of the use of torture against the detained.