Moscow Court Orders Detention of Boris Nemtsov’s Daughter in Absentia

July 31, 2026 Zhanna Nemtsova. @sotavisionmedia / Telegram A Moscow court on Friday ordered the pre-trial arrest in absentia of Zhanna Nemtsova, the daughter of the late Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov. Nemtsova faces charges of organizing the activities of an “undesirable” organization, which carry a maximum punishment of six years in prison. It was not immediately clear when Russian law enforcement issued an arrest warrant for Nemtsova, who has lived in Europe for the past several years. Nemtsova is the founder of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom, which Russian authorities designated as “undesirable” in 2024. The organization is based in Germany. Moscow’s Zamoskvoretsky District Court on Friday ruled to place her in pre-trial detention for two months should she be extradited or return to Russia, according to the city’s court system. “I’m famous now,” wrote Nemtsova after the court ruling. Nemtsov, who was once seen as Boris Yeltsin’s chosen successor but later became one of Vladimir Putin’s most formidable opponents, was gunned down near the Kremlin in February 2015. Five men were convicted for Nemtsov’s murder, but his family and supporters maintain that the organizers behind the killing remain unpunished. Read more about: Court cases , Activism Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Moscow Judge Sentences Veteran Activist Lev Ponomaryov to 5.5 Years in Prison in Absentia A judge convicted Ponomaryov of both evading his “foreign agent” obligations and participating in an “undesirable” organization. 2 Min read Military Court Jails Altai Activist 5 Years for ‘Inciting Terrorism’ Aruna Arna rose to prominence last summer during protests against controversial municipal reforms in the republic of Altai. 1 Min read Moscow Court Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Veteran Activist Lev Ponomaryov in Absentia Ponomaryov fled to France in 2022 after being detained for protesting the invasion of Ukraine. 1 Min read Prisoners’ Rights Activist Arrested in Yekaterinburg and Charged With Treason Alexei Sokolov told reporters that Russian authorities accuse him of sharing information about prison abuse with “foreign organizations.” 2 Min read