People follow the coffin of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov during a farewell ceremony in Moscow on Tuesday, March 3. Nemtsov, a vocal opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin's, was gunned down hundreds of feet away from the Kremlin on Friday, February 27. The assassination has spawned a flood of conspiracy theories; many suspect the Kremlin of either direct or indirect involvement. Putin condemned the killing and ordered three law enforcement agencies to investigate, the Kremlin said.
People follow the coffin of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov during a farewell ceremony in Moscow on Tuesday, March 3. Nemtsov, a vocal opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin's, was gunned down hundreds of feet away from the Kremlin on Friday, February 27. The assassination has spawned a flood of conspiracy theories; many suspect the Kremlin of either direct or indirect involvement. Putin condemned the killing and ordered three law enforcement agencies to investigate, the Kremlin said.
Pavel Golovkin/AP
Dina Eidman, the mother of Nemtsov, left, and other relatives pay their last respects in Moscow on March 3.
Dina Eidman, the mother of Nemtsov, left, and other relatives pay their last respects in Moscow on March 3.
Pavel Golovkin/AP
People pay tribute to Nemtsov on Monday, March 2, at the scene of the opposition leader's shooting in Moscow.
People pay tribute to Nemtsov on Monday, March 2, at the scene of the opposition leader's shooting in Moscow.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
People march in memory of Nemtsov in Moscow on Sunday, March 1.
People march in memory of Nemtsov in Moscow on Sunday, March 1.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A woman carries a sign with Nemtsov's image during a march in St. Petersburg, Russia, on March 1.
A woman carries a sign with Nemtsov's image during a march in St. Petersburg, Russia, on March 1.
Elena Ignatyeva/AP
A woman leaves flowers in Nemtsov's memory during a march in central Moscow on March 1.
A woman leaves flowers in Nemtsov's memory during a march in central Moscow on March 1.
Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images
People march near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1.
People march near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Watched by police in boats on the Moskva River, crowds march across a bridge in Moscow on March 1.
Watched by police in boats on the Moskva River, crowds march across a bridge in Moscow on March 1.
Denis Tyrin/AP
People gather to honor Nemtsov during a ceremony at Maidan, or Independence, Square in Kiev, Ukraine, on March 1.
People gather to honor Nemtsov during a ceremony at Maidan, or Independence, Square in Kiev, Ukraine, on March 1.
SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images
A woman places a candle at a makeshift memorial in front of the Russian Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, on March 1.
A woman places a candle at a makeshift memorial in front of the Russian Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, on March 1.
Mindaugas Kulbis/AP
People gather at Innocent Plaza in Paris on March 1 to remember Nemtsov.
People gather at Innocent Plaza in Paris on March 1 to remember Nemtsov.
Francois Mori/AP
A man carries a sign with Nemtsov's image March 1 in Moscow.
A man carries a sign with Nemtsov's image March 1 in Moscow.
Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images
Marchers gather in central Moscow on March 1.
Marchers gather in central Moscow on March 1.
Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images
People march near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1.
People march near the Kremlin in Moscow on March 1.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
People light candles at a monument dedicated to political prisoners in St. Petersburg on Saturday, February 28.
People light candles at a monument dedicated to political prisoners in St. Petersburg on Saturday, February 28.
Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A group of European Union ambassadors to Russia lay flowers on February 28 at the site where Nemtsov was gunned down in Moscow.
A group of European Union ambassadors to Russia lay flowers on February 28 at the site where Nemtsov was gunned down in Moscow.
Pavel Golovkin/AP
World reacts to Boris Nemtsov's killing

Story highlights

Nemtsov, one of President Vladimir Putin's most outspoken critics, was shot in the back

One recanted his confession

Another says he has an alibi

Moscow CNN  — 

Russia will indict five people in the killing of Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, one of President Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critics.

The five will be charged Tuesday with “a contract murder committed by an organized group and the acquisition, transport and storage of illegal firearms,” the Russian Investigative Committee said.

Nemtsov, one of President Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critics, was shot in the back on a Moscow bridge as he walked with his girlfriend near the Kremlin in February 27.

Surveillance video showed someone darting from the sidewalk and into a nearby car right after Nemtsov collapsed.

After his death, Putin condemned the killing and ordered three law enforcement agencies to investigate.

The five suspects have been identified as Zaur Dadayev, Anzor Gubashev and Shadid Gubashev, Tamerlan Eskerkhanov and Khamzat Bakhayev.

Dadayev, who confessed to the killing, told two members of Russia’s human rights council that he pleaded guilty after being detained because he was scared. He said he had been tortured and the well-being of his family and friends were threatened.

Eskerkhanov says he has an alibi.

“At the time of the murder, I was at work as I usually am every day. There are many people, my colleagues, who will confirm this,” Russia’s Sputnik News quoted Eskerkhanov as saying.

Authorities said those charged are from the southern region of the North Caucasus, which for years has been a hotbed of unrest and rebellion against Moscow.

A sixth suspect, Beslan Shavanov, blew himself up after a standoff with police in the capital of the Chechen Republic in March, state-run television reported.

After Nemtsov’s shooting Putin blamed extremists and protesters who he said were trying to stir internal strife in Russia.

Many opposition sympathizers and people close to Nemtsov have pointed the finger at Putin and the Russian government he leads. They note that Nemtsov – the deputy prime minister under former President Boris Yeltsin – was among several Putin’s opponents who have been killed or imprisoned.

Nemtsov had also been arrested several times for speaking against the government.