<p>Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday the United States was "deeply troubled" by Russia's growing intolerance of free speech, on the sixth anniversary of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov's murder.</p>.<p>Nemtsov, a vocal opponent of President Vladimir Putin, was shot and killed on a Moscow bridge near the Kremlin on February 27, 2015.</p>.<p>"As we remember Nemtsov, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms," Blinken said in a statement.</p>.<p>"We remain deeply troubled by the Russian government's growing intolerance of all forms of independent expression."</p>.<p>Several thousand Russians along with Western diplomats gathered in Moscow to mark the anniversary, laying flowers at a makeshift memorial at the spot where Nemtsov was felled with four bullets.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/putin-warns-of-foreign-efforts-to-destabilise-russia-954922.html" target="_blank">Putin warns of foreign efforts to destabilise Russia</a></strong></p>.<p>In 2017, a court found a former security force officer from Chechnya guilty of Nemtsov's murder and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Four other men were found guilty of involvement in the killing.</p>.<p>But the slain opposition politician's family and supporters insist the authorities have failed to bring the masterminds to justice.</p>.<p>Blinken paid tribute to Nemtsov as a man who "dedicated his life to building a free and democratic Russia."</p>.<p>"Those who would speak out in defense of their freedoms and democracy in Russia continue to be targeted for attack and assassination," he said.</p>.<p>"The Russian people deserve better."</p>
<p>Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday the United States was "deeply troubled" by Russia's growing intolerance of free speech, on the sixth anniversary of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov's murder.</p>.<p>Nemtsov, a vocal opponent of President Vladimir Putin, was shot and killed on a Moscow bridge near the Kremlin on February 27, 2015.</p>.<p>"As we remember Nemtsov, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms," Blinken said in a statement.</p>.<p>"We remain deeply troubled by the Russian government's growing intolerance of all forms of independent expression."</p>.<p>Several thousand Russians along with Western diplomats gathered in Moscow to mark the anniversary, laying flowers at a makeshift memorial at the spot where Nemtsov was felled with four bullets.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/putin-warns-of-foreign-efforts-to-destabilise-russia-954922.html" target="_blank">Putin warns of foreign efforts to destabilise Russia</a></strong></p>.<p>In 2017, a court found a former security force officer from Chechnya guilty of Nemtsov's murder and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. Four other men were found guilty of involvement in the killing.</p>.<p>But the slain opposition politician's family and supporters insist the authorities have failed to bring the masterminds to justice.</p>.<p>Blinken paid tribute to Nemtsov as a man who "dedicated his life to building a free and democratic Russia."</p>.<p>"Those who would speak out in defense of their freedoms and democracy in Russia continue to be targeted for attack and assassination," he said.</p>.<p>"The Russian people deserve better."</p>