Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I noted in my opening statement, the murder of Boris Nemtsov was an appalling act, one which must be fully and effectively investigated. A failure to find and prosecute Mr. Nemtsov's killers would raise serious questions about Russia's criminal justice system. A culture of impunity must not be allowed to develop in Russia and cannot be tolerated. In remarks on behalf of all EU member states at yesterday's memorial service the head of the EU delegation to Russia said Mr. Nemtsov had personified values that we held dear: respect for human dignity, a commitment to democracy, a strong civil society and the need for authorities to be publicly accountable. Defending and promoting these fundamental values is becoming increasingly difficult in Russia. Developments in recent years in terms of political pluralism and civil liberties have been disappointing. Although our perspectives may sometimes differ, it is important that we continue to engage with Russia in all areas, including political pluralism, the role of civil society and civil liberties generally.

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