The Nemtsov murder fits into a pattern of recent lawless Russian actions. In the past year, Russia has forcibly annexed Crimea, part of a neighbouring country. It has provided weapons to rebels in eastern Ukraine, who then shot down a civilian airliner killing 298 people. It has broken diplomatic deals and violated ceasefires. It has flaunted its nuclear arsenal and has flown nuclear bombers over the English Channel. Those Russians brave enough to protest have been vilified — and now murdered.
