Moscow – Hanna Durytska, a Ukrainian citizen, accompanying Boris Nemtsov at the moment he was killed and the main witness in the Nemtsov murder case, said she has given all the necessary evidence to the investigative bodies and does not understand why she is being held on Russian territory.
“I have witness status now. I have given all the possible evidence and I don’t understand why I am still on the territory of the Russian Federation,” Durytska said in an interview with Dozhd television on March 2.
Durytska said she wants to leave for Ukraine to see her mother, who is ill. “She is in a very difficult psychological situation,” the woman said.
Durytska said that throughout the three days that have passed since the killing she had been taken to the Investigative Committee in police vehicles under security for investigative actions, “without explaining when they will release me and why I am being held here.” “They are telling me it’s for security reasons. The investigators are telling me it’s not safe for me to leave Moscow,” she said.
The woman said she has not given any written promises not to leave Moscow to the investigators. “I have the full right to leave Russia now. I also had the full right not to give any evidence after the killing, but I did everything I could, I have given all the evidence and I have fulfilled all investigative actions. I don’t know what else I can do and why they can’t let me go,” she said.
Durytska also said she was taken from the crime scene by police immediately after police arrived there. “I was taken straight in for questioning. They questioned me until morning. I don’t remember where,” she said.
Durytska said there was no lawyer with her at that time. “Some time later, several hours into the questioning I asked to call a lawyer and the Ukrainian embassy consul,” she said.
