article_snippet: (CNN)As the world digests the shock of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov's brutal murder in front of the Kremlin on Friday, everybody is trying to determine who was behind it.
article_snippet: The Russian authorities were quick to throw out a number of theories, which ranged from the CIA to Ukraine, and even to Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov's relationship troubles.
article_snippet: While most people have discounted these out of hand, there are a surprising number of people who have bought into the statement, released by Vladimir Putin spokesman, that "Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was only slightly more than an average statistical citizen" -- implying that the Russian President would have no reason to want the Russian President dead.
article_snippet: Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov may not have been a significant threat two years ago when oil prices were high and Russians were feeling politically apathetic -- but with oil prices down 50%, the ruble down 50%, the economy shrinking and companies firing people, a charismatic opposition politician like Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov is a real and direct threat to Putin, who is terrified of experiencing a Ukraine-style revolution in Russia, especially when there is an unpredictable economic crisis brewing.
article_snippet: Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov's corruption exposés laid out, in damning detail, the truth behind the personal wealth of Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Putin cronies; one doesn't need to be an expert to see the similarities with former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled Kiev following popular uprisings in February of last year.
article_snippet: Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was also preparing a paper documenting the experiences of Russian soldiers in Ukraine -- one that could have dealt a catastrophic blow to the Russian propaganda machine about the Ukrainian conflict.
article_snippet: And Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was instrumental in organizing the March 1 anti-war rally in Moscow --
article_snippet: a protest march Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov would have led, had Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov not been gunned down just hours before.
article_snippet: The benefit of this murder to Vladimir Putin wasn't just that The benefit of this murder to Putin eliminated one opponent of Vladimir Putin, but that The benefit of this murder to Putin will terrorize an entire class of dissidents.
article_snippet: Other critics of Vladimir Putin who ended up dead .
article_snippet: Vladimir Putin has a history of viciously attacking the most important person in any given group of enemies, in order to send a message to the rest of enemies.
article_snippet: Now, in 2015, one of the most vocal opposition leaders has been gunned down directly in front of Kremlin.
article_snippet: In addition to the political benefits of Nemtsov's demise, Nemtsov also sends a clear and chilling message to anyone else who is similarly outspoken against Vladimir Putin: It doesn't matter how well known you are, how many heads of state in the West know you, or how many people would be outraged by her death.
article_snippet: Not only does this have a powerful effect on other opposition leaders, but this puts a primordial fear into the minds of average Russian citizens, who may now think twice before taking to the streets to protest corruption, the war in Ukraine, or the poor standards of living.
article_snippet: This is the most brazen high-profile assassination of a political opposition leader in modern Russian history.
article_snippet: Yushenkov, Politkovskaya, Shchekochikhin, Klebnikhov, Estemirova, Markelov, Magnitsky and now Nemtsov.
highlights_snippet: Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov murdered in Moscow on Friday .
  
highlights_snippet: Browder: There are reasons why Vladimir Putin would want Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov dead .
  