• published: 28 Feb 2015
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Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov shot dead on Moscow street a day before first major anti-Putin protest in months Nemtsov, 55, was one of Vladimir Putin's fiercest critics He was shot four times near Kremlin while walking with a woman, according to Russian news site Meduza Nemtsov had publicly expressed concerns for his life earlier this month Known as an economic reformer during his time as governor of one of Russia’s biggest cities, Nizhny Novgorod He had been due to take part on Sunday in first big opposition protest in months in Russian capital Putin condemns murder, saying it may have been 'contract killing' A leading Russian opposition politician and a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin has been shot dead on the streets of Moscow this evening. Police cars blocked the street where Nemtsov was shot, and an ambulance was also nearby. 'Nemtsov B.E. died at 2340 hours as a result of four shots in the back,' an Interior Ministry spokeswoman said. The 55-year-old was the first deputy prime minister of the late President Boris Yeltsin during the 1990s. He had publicly expressed concerns for his life earlier this month and was outspoken in his opposition to Putin. Nemtsov was highly critical of the government's inefficiency, rampant corruption and the Kremlin's policy on Ukraine, which has strained Russia-West ties to a degree unseen since Cold War times. An unidentified assassin shot former deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov four times while he was walking with a woman across a bridge near the Kremlin. ‘Several people’ got out of a car and shot him just after midnight local time, according to a source in the law enforcement bodies. President Putin condemned the murder and said it may have been a contract killing, according to Russian news agencies. Dmitry Peskov said the shooting could also be a 'provocation' as the opposition has planned a big protest in Moscow on Sunday. He said Putin had been quickly informed of the killing and that the president had expressed his condolences and ordered the security agencies to investigate. Police cars blocked the street where Nemtsov was shot, and an ambulance was also nearby. He had publicly expressed concerns for his life earlier this month and was outspoken in his opposition to Putin. Nemtsov was highly critical of the government's inefficiency, rampant corruption and the Kremlin's policy on Ukraine, which has strained Russia-West ties to a degree unseen since Cold War times. He had been due to take part on Sunday in the first big opposition protest in months in the Russian capital. He was known as an economic reformer during his time as governor of one of Russia’s biggest cities, Nizhny Novgorod. Nemtsov, who was Deputy Prime Minister of Russia from 1997 to 1998 during Boris Yeltsin's presidency, was sentenced to 15 days in jail in January 2011 after being arrested at a New Year's Eve protest rally for 'disobedience towards police'. One of Russia's most prominent opposition leaders, he was among 68 people arrested at an unsanctioned rally at a central Moscow square. Nemtsov and other protesters had gathered on the opposite side of the square from an authorised protest. He was sentenced for failure to follow police orders, the state news agency RIA Novosti reported at the Security and emergency services secure the area close to the Kremlin where Russian politician Boris Nemtsov was shot and killed on Friday. Reports indicate that a white vehicle pulled up close to Nemtsov before an unknown assailant unleashed a series of shots, hitting the former politician four times. Police and emergency services rushed to the scene of the crime, which occurred on Zamoskvoretskiy Bridge near the Kremlin’s Vasilyevsky Spusk. Nemtsov was pronounced dead on their arrival. President Putin ordered the Head of the Investigative Committee to take personal control of the investigation. According to the president’s spokesman Dmitri Peskov, Putin noted that the 'brutal' murder bears all the hallmarks of a contract killing and is of a purely 'provocative' nature. Russia: FIRST SHOTS of Boris Nemtsov shooting aftermath LIVE: Russian politician Boris Nemtsov shooting aftermath Immediate aftermath of Boris Nemtsov shooting in Russia (FULL VIDEO ) RAW VIDEO: Aftermath of Boris Nemtsov shooting at Moscow Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov shot dead on Moscow street a day before first major anti-Putin protest in months Immediate aftermath of Boris Nemtsov shooting in Russia