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Growing Memorial For Nemtsov; Thousands Protest Opposition Leader's Killing; Nemtsov: Russia "Is A Country Of Corruption

Aired March 01, 2015 - 06:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news in Moscow, you're looking at live pictures as tens of thousands are expected to rally and march in memory of Boris Nemtsov.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: The former Russian deputy prime minister was a fierce and outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin. He was gunned down late Friday as he walked home from dinner. There is still a manhunt for his killer. Good morning, I'm Victor Blackwell.

PAUL: And I'm Christi Paul. We want to wish you a happy Sunday and welcome, not only our viewers from the U.S. but also around the world. It's so good to have you.

We want to get right into it here because as we just mentioned there is that huge rally. Again, live pictures so you can see what is happening right this moment in the heart of Moscow.

Thousands of people expected to protest the murder of Boris Nemtsov. Immediately following this rally, we know that they are going to join a morning march for him specifically.

BLACKWELL: We also have surveillance video of the moment the opposition leader was gunned down on that Moscow bridge, take a look, this is time footage from Russian TV.

You see two people in the circle believed to be Nemtsov and a companion walking then a snowplow moves along the street and blocks them from view and then you see running someone there to what may be the get-away car behind the snowplow.

The car stops and then takes off. It's thought that person may have been lying-in-wait for Nemtsov and shot him multiple times. CNN cannot confirm the video's authenticity.

PAUL: But we can tell you we know who was with him when he was shot. She is 23-year-old Ann Duritskaya, a Ukrainian model. She was not hurt in that attack and as we understand she is talking to investigators.

BLACKWELL: Now hours before he was killed, Nemtsov took part in a radio interview in Moscow. You're looking a video of him here at that interview just hours before he was murdered there.

Now in a moment, you will hear from Nemtsov himself in a never before seen interview. He talked very candidly last year with CNN's Anthony Bourdain about Putin, life in Russia and his motivation.

Also senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance, we have him with the marchers, but let's begin with our senior international correspondent, Fred Pleitgen. Fred, what is the latest on the search for the killer?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the search for the killer is still going on. As you mentioned, there is that CCTV video out, the surveillance video camera of the moment when all of this happened.

But so far the authorities here are saying that they don't have any suspect in custody and they don't have any suspect at all yet. But the interesting thing that they say they do have is that they now believe that they have identified the vehicle that was used as the get-away car.

One of the things, of course, Victor, that's been helping them a great deal is the fact that there is so much surveillance technology and security technology in the area where all of this happened. It's right next to the Kremlin and next to Red Square.

There are security cameras everywhere. You can see surveillance camera video of that car on Russian TV before the actual vehicle was found. So that is absolutely significant.

The other thing that has also been very significant to the investigators so far is the fact they also had quite a few witnesses as well because there were other people running around there walking around there.

There were a lot of other cars as you can see on that video as well that was driving around there as well. Then, of course, there is Anna Duritskaya, that Ukrainian model who was with Boris Nemtsov, who has also given the police testimony.

We were actually able to speak to a friend of Nemtsov, who said he was one of the first people at the scene after this happened because Anna Duritskaya actually called him and he immediately rushed to there.

Before being taken away by police, she told him that he had been fired on several times and that someone jumped into the get-away car immediately. Certainly she is one of the prime witnesses in all of this and the police say they are making headway, but they don't have a suspect in custody yet -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: Let's talk more about the investigation because several of the analysts we have had on this program and on the network over the last 48 hours or so, have questioned that this investigation will be one that will satisfy the Russian people.

That will be one that will actually come to the conclusion of who killed Nemtsov and who ordered his death, if, indeed, it was ordered. Have you been able to gauge the degree of confidence of the people there in this investigation? PLEITGEN: Certainly, the people that we spoke to, and we were last night on the bridge right behind me, which is actually the place where Boris Nemtsov was gunned down, if you spoke to people there, not very many of them said they had very much confidence in the investigation that was going to happen.

It's interesting because even the kremlin has come out and they said that they believe that this was an ordered killing, that someone targeted him. That someone plotted this for a very long time.

Someone must have known the route he was taken and must have known where he was and shadowed him a long time which indicates there was a high degree of professionalism in this assassination. People this morning believe this was politically motivated.

The big question is who might be behind this? Of course, there are some people who believe that it might be the highest level of politics in this country.

However so far, there really isn't really anything to indicate that is actually true. One of the things we have to keep in mind is while Boris Nemtsov had a lot of admirers in this country he also had a lot of enemies in this country.

It doesn't necessarily have to be the political sphere that did all of this, but it could also be groups that were opposed, for instance, to his stance on Ukraine conflict.

There are some organizations, for instance, former Russian soldiers who are very much opposed to Nemtsov's stance on the Ukraine conflict so he did have a lot of enemies, but you're right. The investigation is not one that is likely to satisfy many people in this country -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right, Fred, we will check in with you throughout the morning because we want to talk about what this means to other opposition leaders if they are emboldened by this or if they are intimidated by this murder if, indeed, this is found to have some political connection. Frederik Pleitgen in Moscow, thank you so much.

PAUL: Meanwhile, CNN senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance is live at the site of that killing. Matthew, we want to talk about that, as well as this rally that is going to happen today. What have you seen there in the last couple of hours?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christie, incredibly emotional scene. As you can see, all of these flowers that have been laid since late Friday night when Boris Nemtsov was gunned down here.

Just a short distance from the kremlin is the red walls of the kremlin behind us and the cathedral beyond the Red Square and a 100 meters or so from the office of the president of Russia where this prominent opposition figure was killed.

You can see a mountain of flowers. All through the night we were reporting from here and there was a constant stream of people paying their respects, laying bouquets of flowers and writing personal messages.

This is a good example. To Boris Nemtsov, thank you for your example of courage and honesty is what it says in Russian. That is the kind of tone of the messages, the sympathetic messages, the grieving messages that we are seeing put out on the streets, on this bridge where he was killed.

So that's likely to continue throughout the day and into the days ahead. A short distance on this roadside is the march where 50,000 people are expected to attend, a big security operation here. Lots of police have barricaded off this center of Moscow in preparation for this morning march.

You get the sense, Christi, that even though Boris Nemtsov was a fringe figure politically in Russia, because of his opposition views and opposition to the war in Ukraine, to the economic situation in Russia, and political situation in Russia.

A lot of people are coming out now and saying, look, we are giving it a second thought about what he said. One of the big questions is will this killing change the popularity of Vladimir Putin.

Will it change the opinion of Russians when it comes to opposing points of view in the country? We don't have the answer to that question yet. We will get a better idea with this morning march later on today.

PAUL: Yes, in his last radio interview, he called on people to join this anti-war rally that was supposed to happen today that has become a march for him. He said a march can sober the kremlin up.

If 100,000 people come out it could turn the kremlin around and be an absolute shock for them. How pivotal was this rally supposed to be for him and how different will it be today because of his death?

CHANCE: Well, I mean, the rally was going to be a big one. It was on the outskirts of Moscow which pushed it to the perimeters, if you like, both literally and metaphorically. But it wasn't clear that that was ever going to have an impact on Russian politics.

Remember, within the past few days, there have been new opinion polls coming out about Vladimir Putin's popularity and running at 86 percent, which is even higher than it was, you know, a couple of weeks ago, a couple of months ago.

It's actually been increasing, his popularity. So in that context, an opposition rally was never going to make much of an impact. The situation may have changed. Boris Nemtsov has been gunned down.

Even people that did not pay attention to opposition politics in this country and now sitting up and saying, you know, our country is really taken a turn in a dark direction and I've seen lots of people come through here. And lots of people I know in Russia who hasn't thought about politics before very seriously, and now thinking maybe now is the time to think about what Boris Nemtsov said about the direction Russia is taking.

PAUL: Isn't that interesting to think that his death may bring about the kind of change or at least awareness that he was hoping to bring about when he was alive? Matthew Chance, so appreciate your update for us. Thank you.

Last year, Boris Nemtsov spent a lot of time with CNN's Anthony Bourdain and parts of that interview have never been seen before at least not until now. Coming up, you're going to hear Nemtsov very candidly talk about Putin and life in Russia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY BOURDAIN, HOST, CNN'S "PARTS UNKNOWN": Critics of the government and critics of Putin, bad things seemed to happen to them.

BORIS NEMTSOV, PUTIN CRITIC SHOT TO DEATH FRIDAY: Yes, unfortunately, existing power represent what I say Russia of 19th Century not of 21st.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Plus, one of the FBI's Most Wanted has been captured. This Minnesota pastor is accused of horrible crimes against children.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Take a look at these live pictures here. This is what is happening in Moscow right now. Thousands of people expected to mourn the death of Russian opposition leader, Boris Nemtsov.

This was supposed to be a rally initially to be critical of the government, the economics there and Putin himself, but it has turned into a rally to mourn the death of this opposition leader.

BLACKWELL: A memorial march that will start this morning. Russian investigators call the shooting death of the critic carefully planned. Nemtsov was shot several times in the back while walking on a bridge outside the kremlin on Friday.

Earlier in the year, CNN's Anthony Bourdain had a chance to sit down with Nemtsov. For the first time, you are about to hear the outspoken Putin critic describe life as a critic of the president.

It's a very candid interview and some of it has aired before on CNN, but what you're about to watch are parts of the interview that have never been seen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NEMTSOV: You are in a typical country of growing capitalism. This is typical like Philippines, like Pakistan, like middle Asian countries and like some others, right, absolutely typical. The relationship with Putin and his people around, right, good relationship with -- doesn't matter either in the city. While you have a chance to raise money, to be successful, you know, to buy real estate in the south of France or in Switzerland, Swiss banks, et cetera. But if something happened between you and Putin or you or the governor, you could be in jail. It's very easy.

BOURDAIN: Dismantled --

NEMTSOV: Yes. Police raiders, they are going to organize every central block of business. What we see throughout the world. This is an opportunity for you to do something, right?

BOURDAIN: Right.

NEMTSOV: And this is your independence. Russia strongly defers if you each, you are slave. If you are rich, you are very much dependent.

BOURDAIN: Right.

NEMTSOV: I want to tell a lot of -- guys whom I knew, right? They look at me and say you are much freer than all of our team. Nevertheless what kind of money raise under your care because it's difficult to press you and to touch.

Well, this is their choice. Guys prefer to raise money and to be quiet and tell -- this is a country of corruption. And I explain. Corruption exists everywhere, including the states, right, and even in Scandinavia countries.

For Putin, this is a system, this is not a problem. You don't have such a problem. It's a system, system to control the country. How it works. For example, I'm Putin and you are a governor. If you are corrupted, you're loyal, right?

BOURDAIN: Right.

NEMTSOV: Because if you don't, you will be in jail. I have special cases for you and you knew about these cases, right?

BOURDAIN: Right.

NEMTSOV: That's why if you build such kind of system that everywhere around have cases you build very loyal system.

BOURDAIN: Right.

NEMTSOV: That's what he built. That's why if you are corrupted, but you are loyal and you kremlin, you are within reach. Secondly, you are in a very safe position. This is a system and this is a problem.

On the other hand, not for Putin, for him, he builds very comfortable system, but for Russian people, Russian people are a bit troubled because what does mean corruption? Money disappear. He builds super cost in games result in a future for the objects. No discussion in the society at all, big difference between Putin and reach and much bigger in the states that's why this is very uncomfortable country for every in it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: All righty. Anna Nemtsova is joining us now from Moscow. She is a Moscow-based reporter for "The Daily Beast" and "Newsweek". I also need to point out of no relation to the slain opposition leader even though they share a similar last name.

Anna, thank you so much for being with us. So you just listened to this interview and he was talking about the corruption in Russia and how complicated and problematic it is for the people of Russia. What stood out to you in what he was saying?

ANNA NEMTSOVA, CORRESPONDENT, "NEWSWEEK" AND "DAILY BEAST": A lot of what he was saying, I heard from him personally, he investigated corruption in Russia. He was talking about corruption and he was actually, I think -- he really cared about Russian -- about Russian state until the last days he was working for a local legislator.

He was not against the system of the state. He really wanted to improve it. He wanted to make things -- to have freedom of speech and he was always successful himself with -- a very interesting feature.

Even when he was vice prime minister, the journalists could come and interview him when he was a governor in my hometown, he was very successful. And, today, you know, people are gathering already.

If you meet us away from my home actually at the square to pay tribute to bring flowers to the place where he was killed by the Kremlin Wall and people wanted political terror is returning to Russia. That's what I heard from a few people.

PAUL: Well, how much -- help us understand. How much of a threat might he have been to the -- to Putin's regimen. Was he seen as a threat to them? When we talk about the enemies that he had, who were those enemies?

NEMTSOVA: I would think random people. I don't think that Putin, himself, wanted to really get rid of him. So far political figure and opposition leader for many years, so we saw him at every rally, even when not many people came out, he would be standing sometimes even alone with a banner in his hands and demonstrating.

That was his principle, to express his view and to, you know, attract people's attention. But, today, we see that as never before, there's so many people who think of himself, so many people come to the Kremlin Wall when never, never was permitted to demonstrate against the system, against Putin.

For years, the opposition was not allowed to come out on the protest on the Red Square and, today, we see thousands of people coming to bring flowers. This is a set irony behind this tragedy. PAUL: Yes. As we were saying earlier, maybe his death is going to bring even more light to what he was fighting for. Anna Nemtsova, we appreciate your time today and thank you for being with us.

NEMTSOVA: Thank you.

PAUL: Victor.

BLACKWELL: A political straw poll surprise. The shocker was not who the conservative conference CPAC, the presidential pick that came, but the candidate who finished fifth.

Plus, John Walsh featured this pastor accused of molesting young girls on his CNN show "THE HUNT." We will tell you where authorities finally caught one of the FBI's most wanted.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Here is a look at other stories developing now.

Senator Rand Paul won the Conservative Political Action Conference's annual straw poll. He came in on top with more than 25 percent of the vote. This is the third year in a row that he's won.

PAUL: Yes, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker came in second. Jeb Bush was a distant fifth. The poll is said to be a pretty decent indicator as to where conservatives are on the issues that past results have rarely predicted who the GOP's presidential nominee will be, hence, Rand Paul being number one for the third year in a row.

BLACKWELL: A pastor from Minnesota who is wanted on 59 counts of sexual assault has been arrested in Brazil. U.S. Marshals say Victor Bernard sexually abused two young girls who were members of a congregation.

Bernard was featured on CNN's "THE HUNT" with John Walsh last year and just last week. The manhunt started after a two-year allegation after allegations were made that Bernard was preaching to a religious group in Minnesota.

PAUL: NASA plans to go forward with the spacewalk today after cutting a previous walk short when an astronaut found water inside his helmet. NASA says the problem is understood. It does not threaten the astronaut's safety.

But the six and a half hour spacewalk is said to begin at 7:10 this morning. The two-person crew will continue to fit the International Space Station with parts that will allow private commercial spacecraft to dock and good luck to them.

BLACKWELL: So in a match that with shorter than this story. Rowdy Ronda Rousey successfully defended her UFC title winning in 14 seconds in Los Angeles last night.

The former Olympian top contender, Cathy Sangano, submit to an arm bar in the quickest ultimate fighting match ever. Rousey last three title fights have lasted 66, 16, and now 14 seconds.

PAUL: I'm just going to praise her from afar.

BLACKWELL: Yes, the high five from afar.

PAUL: Yes. Good for you. Congratulations.

Still ahead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is en route to the U.S. this morning. Ahead of his visit, though, we're going to take a look at how partisanship may be causing a major strain between the U.S. and the Israel relationship.

BLACKWELL: And we've got live pictures in Moscow. We are watching the breaking news happening. Marchers taking to the streets to protest the murder of one of Russia's most opposition leader as the hunt for his killer continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)