You're reading: Nemtsov posthumously awarded Ukrainian Order of Freedom

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has posthumously bestowed the Order of Freedom on the Russian politician Boris Nemtsov who was killed in central Moscow on Feb. 27, the Ukrainian president's press office said.

“For us, Ukrainians, Boris will forever remain a Russian patriot and friend of Ukraine. With his life he proved that you can be both, as long as you want to,” Poroshenko said.

Nemtsov fought both for Ukraine’s freedom and for Russia’s freedom because he knew a free Russia cannot exist without a free Ukraine, Poroshenko said. ‘For Freedom, Yours and Ours’ – this historical slogan became Boris Nemtsov’s life motto. Which is why I have decided to award him with the Order of Freedom. Rest in peace,” Poroshenko said.

The Order of Freedom is a Ukrainian state award bestowed on the distinguished for services in asserting the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, consolidating the Ukrainian society, promoting democracy, socio-economic and political reforms, defending constitutional rights liberties of the individual and citizen.

The Order of Freedom is one of the highest Ukrainian awards and the highest Ukrainian order that can be bestowed on a foreign national or non-citizen (for the Ukrainians, the highest award is the Hero of Ukraine with the Golden Star Order or the Order of Power).