You're reading: Nemtsov murder witness Durytska highly likely to further participate in inquiry

Moscow – All investigative measures that required the presence of Hanna Durytska, a key witness in the murder of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, have already been completed and she has been allowed to return to Ukraine, her lawyer Vadim Prokhorov told Interfax.

“We gave testimony and participated in all possible activities. If investigators need to summon Hanna once again, she is highly likely to take part in these investigative measures,” he said.

So far, investigators looking into Nemtsov’s killing have not tracked down any suspects, the lawyer said.

“If they presented suspects, the need for Hanna to stay in Moscow would be understandable. But there are no suspects, and I do not know whether she would be able to identify them anyway,” Prokhorov said.

Durytska earlier signed a gagging order, the lawyer noted. He, however, did not say whether or not the woman had given an undertaking to once again meet with investigators if needed.

Nemtsov was shot dead while crossing Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge in the center of Moscow at around 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 27.

The Russian Investigative Committee is looking into a number of possible motives for the murder, including: political provocation, extremists’ revenge, Nemtsov’s opposition to the war in Ukraine as well as personal dislike. Nemtsov’s supporters, however, are confident that his killing was politically motivated.

A criminal investigation was opened into the Feb. 27 events on counts of murder and illegal possession of weapons, Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told Interfax.