Thousands of Russians attend Nemtsov memorial marches

Thousands marched through Moscow's central streets and those in St. Petersburg on Sunday to commemorate murdered Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and voice criticism of authorities three weeks before a presidential election. Nemtsov, one of President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critics, was shot dead on February 27, 2015 as he walked across a bridge near the Kremlin. Aged 55, he had been working on a report examining Russia's role in the conflict in Ukraine. His killing sent a chill through opposition circles and initiated annual marches in Moscow that united different opposition parties and those who feel discontented about Russian authorities. A number of opposition politicians participated in the rally including Ksenia Sobchak, a contender for the March election where Putin is widely expected to win, and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who has been barred from running in the election. According to a non-official organisation White Counter, which counts those who pass metal detector frames to take part in a rally, said Moscow's march gathered around 7,600 people.