Boris Nemtsov

The prisoner exchange between Russia and the West, which took place on Thursday in Istanbul, resembled moments from the Cold War, complete with the dramatic setting of an isolated airport area.

From Russia, 16 people were released: four to the U.S. and 12 to Germany, one of whom was Belarusian.

During a discussion held in the European Parliament, participants highlighted the alarming rise of political prisoners in Russia, surpassing even the numbers seen during the Soviet era. Bill Browder, leader of the "Magnitsky" act campaign, attributed the assassination of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov to his involvement in the campaign.

Active citizens in Sofia want the Sofia Municipal Council to transfer the name of "Boris Nemtsov Square" from the area around Joliot-Curie Metro Station and the Embassy of North Macedonia to the area directly in front of the Embassy of the Russian Federation. Here is the full statement of the activists:

"Vazrazhdane - Sofia" removed the flag of Ukraine from the building of the Sofia Municipality in the capital of Bulgaria.

"We remind you that the place of each foreign flag is in the embassy, consulate or trade representation of the respective country in our Republic," the party stated.

"We would strongly support the initiative of the Sofia administration in case the new name change discussed is a tribute to the memory of Soviet heroes Marshals Tymoshenko, Rybalko, Kozhedub, Colonels Generals Zhmachenko and Lyudnikov, legendary guerrilla commander Kovpak and many other heroes made famous in battle for my Motherland and the freedom of Europe.

The alley, located between Dragan Tsankov Boulevard and the fence of the Russian Embassy in Sofia, will be named "Heroes of Ukraine". This was voted by the municipal councilors in Sofia Council. The alley is located along 96 meters between Nezabravka Street and Nikola Mirchev Street.

The decision was taken with 36 "For", 16 "Against" and none abstained.

Dodik is presently the current Serb member of Bosnia's tripartite state presidency, and in theory spends most of his time in Sarajevo.

A Russian court handed on July 13 jail terms ranging from 11 to 20 years to five Chechen men for organizing and carrying out the contract killing of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.

A Russian court sentenced a man convicted of murdering opposition leader Boris Nemtsov to 20 years in jail on Thursday and handed terms of between 11 and 19 years to four other men convicted of being his accomplices.

Russia's prosecuting authority has indicted Zaur Dadayev, the person who it believes killed opposition politician Boris Nemtsov in February.

Separately, charges will be pressed against four other people believed to be his accomplices, TASS news agency reports.

Dadayev in March owned up to having committed Nemtsov's murder, but then retracted his confessions.