LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing the untimely death of Boris Yefimo-
vich Nemtsov, nuclear scientist, environmentalist, politician, and
reformer

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the people of New York, is
moved this day to pay tribute to a man of great courage and determi-
nation, whose indomitable faith and tireless dedication will forever
stand as a paradigm of benevolent endeavor; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize the
untimely death of Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov, nuclear scientist, environ-
mentalist, politician, reformer, and father of four, who died on Friday,
February 27, 2015, at the age of 55; and
WHEREAS, New York State is home to a large and thriving Russian speak-
ing community, many of whom have made significant contributions to our
great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Admired by many New Yorkers and the world at large, Boris
Nemtsov was one of the most important figures in the introduction of
capitalism into the Russian economy, at the time of his death, he was in
Moscow helping to organize a peace rally against Russian involvement in
the war in Ukraine and the financial crisis; and
WHEREAS, Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov was born in Sochi to Yefim Davido-
vich Nemtsov and Dina Yakovlevna Nemtsova; and
WHEREAS, From 1976 to 1981, Boris Nemtsov studied physics at N. I.
Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, where in 1985, at the
age of 25, he defended a Ph.D. in Physics and Mathematics; and
WHEREAS, Boris Nemtsov worked as a research fellow at the Radiophysi-
cal Research Institute until 1990, and published more than 60 academic
publications related to quantum physics, thermodynamics and acoustics;
and
WHEREAS, Boris Nemtsov was the first governor of the Nizhny Novgorod
Oblast, serving from 1991 to 1997; later, he served in the Government of
Russia as Minister of fuel and energy in 1997, and Vice Premier of
Russia and Security Council member from 1997 to 1998; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, he founded the Young Russia movement, and co-founded
the coalition group Right Cause; one year later, he co-formed Union of
Right Forces, an electoral bloc and subsequently a political party; and
WHEREAS, He was elected several times as a Russian parliament member,
and was a member of the Congress of People's Deputies, Federation Coun-
cil, and State Duma; he also served as Vice Speaker of the State Duma
and the leader of parliamentary group Union of Right Forces; and
WHEREAS, After a split in the Union of Right Forces in 2008, he
co-founded Solidarnost; in 2012, Boris Nemtsov was co-chair of the
Republican Party of Russia -- People's Freedom Party (RPR-PARNAS), a
registered political party; and
WHEREAS, Since 2013, Boris Nemtsov had been elected member of the
regional Parliament of Yaroslavl Oblast; and
WHEREAS, Following a turbulent rollercoaster of a career, Boris Nemt-
sov rose once again to prominence following Russia's annexation of
Crimea in March of 2014 and the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine in
which approximately 1.25 million people have fled their homes, and
around 5,800 people have died, according to the UN; and
WHEREAS, The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, has referred to
Boris Nemtsov as a bridge between Ukraine and Russia; and
WHEREAS, A large opposition rally was set to be led by Boris Nemtsov
but instead the tens of thousands of followers turned out to march in
his memory, and to prove that despite the loss of their leader, the

movement and idea of true democracy and a new Russia would continue on;
and
WHEREAS, Those who supported Boris Nemtsov truly believed he was a man
who had the full potential to change the entire climate in Eastern
Europe for the better; he died for the future of Russia; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize the untimely death of Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov, nuclear
scientist, environmentalist, politician, and reformer; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov.