Headlines
Russian politician Boris Nemtsov killed in Moscow
Moscow, Feb 28
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was
shot and killed near Moscow's city centre Friday night, according to law
enforcement agencies.
"An unknown person killed Nemtsov with
four shots using a handgun on the slope near St. Basil's Cathedral in
the Red Square," Tass quoted a law enforcement spokesperson as saying.
"An investigative team is working at the site," the spokesperson said, adding that the manhunt of the murderer is underway.
Anatoly
Yakunin, head of Moscow City Department of the interior ministry, was
headed to the murder site and Russian Interior Minister Vladimir
Kolokoltsev was also informed about Nemtsov's murder.
Kremlin
spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin was
"immediately informed of the murder" and "instructed the Investigative
Committee, interior ministry and federal security service to establish
an investigative group."
"The head of state personally controls
the investigation course," Peskov said. "Putin noted that the violent
murder indicates a contract killing and is purely provocative."
The incident happened almost a day before the opposition anti-crisis march "Spring", which is planned March 1.
As an outspoken critic of Putin, Nemtsov had once served as Russia's deputy premier.