A criminal investigation has been opened into the assassination of Mr Nemtsov near the Kremlin on Friday. In contradiction to a source from a law enforcement agency, Mr Prokhorov said: 'Several months before today, threats were made on social networks. We filed an application [with police] but there was no reaction...Let me underscore that this was several months ago.' Mr Prokhorov played an important role in clarifying what happened on Friday night - as the media gave out different reports at the time. He said: 'I’m standing on the bridge and looking at Nemtsov’s body on the ground. He’s definitely been killed.' 

Ukraine angle

The lawyer also gave a view as to why the politician was shot dead. He said: 'I'm sure that this has a political motive, and that the murder could have been committed by someone returning from the conflict zone in south-eastern Ukraine.' Sources: Russia beyond the headlines, BuzzFeed and EU Observer