Boris Nemtsov, a politician and statesman from Russia, died on February 27, 2015, at the age of 55. Born in Sochi in 1959, Boris was a noted leader of the democratic reform movement in Russia, serving as Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region from 1991 to 1997. He gained nationwide fame for his vocal criticism of corruption and the war in Chechnya and joined Boris Yeltsin's Cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister from 1997 to 1998. During his political career, Boris Nemtsov held important positions in the Russian government, including that of First Vice-Prime Minister from 1998 to 1999. Following his return to the political arena at the 2012 and 2013 Moscow protest rallies, Boris Nemtsov held a leading position in the opposition of the Russian authorities. He was widely known for his unyielding support for democracy, human rights, and civil liberties. In the course of his life, Boris Nemtsov won numerous awards and honors for his contribution to Russian politics and society, ranging from the Human Rights Watch Wenner-Gren Award to the RBS Citizens Award for Democracy from the US-based Russian American Science Association in 2004. He will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his beliefs and convictions and his continued involvement in the Russian political sphere.