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| Russia opposition politician Boris Nemtsov shot dead | Russia opposition politician Boris Nemtsov shot dead |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A leading Russian opposition politician, former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, has been shot dead in Moscow, Russian officials say. | A leading Russian opposition politician, former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, has been shot dead in Moscow, Russian officials say. |
| An unidentified attacker in a car shot Mr Nemtsov four times in the back as he crossed a bridge in view of the Kremlin, police say. | An unidentified attacker in a car shot Mr Nemtsov four times in the back as he crossed a bridge in view of the Kremlin, police say. |
| He died hours after appealing for support for a march on Sunday in Moscow against the war in Ukraine. | He died hours after appealing for support for a march on Sunday in Moscow against the war in Ukraine. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the murder, the Kremlin says. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the murder, the Kremlin says. |
| President Putin has assumed "personal control" of the investigation into the killing, said his spokesman Dmitry Peskov. | |
| It "bears the hallmarks of a contract killing," said Mr Peskov. | |
| In a recent interview, Mr Nemtsov had said he feared Mr Putin would have him killed because of his opposition to the war in Ukraine. | In a recent interview, Mr Nemtsov had said he feared Mr Putin would have him killed because of his opposition to the war in Ukraine. |
| Mr Nemtsov, 55, served as first deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s. | Mr Nemtsov, 55, served as first deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s. |
| He had earned a reputation as an economic reformer while governor of one of Russia's biggest cities, Nizhny Novgorod. | He had earned a reputation as an economic reformer while governor of one of Russia's biggest cities, Nizhny Novgorod. |
| Falling out of favour with Yeltsin's successor, Mr Putin, he became an outspoken opposition politician. | Falling out of favour with Yeltsin's successor, Mr Putin, he became an outspoken opposition politician. |
| 'Brutal murder' | 'Brutal murder' |
| Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe, condemned the killing, saying in a tweet: "I am shocked and appalled key opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was shot. Killers must be brought to justice." | Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe, condemned the killing, saying in a tweet: "I am shocked and appalled key opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was shot. Killers must be brought to justice." |
| US President Barack Obama condemned the "brutal murder" and called on the Russian government to conduct a "prompt, impartial and transparent investigation". | US President Barack Obama condemned the "brutal murder" and called on the Russian government to conduct a "prompt, impartial and transparent investigation". |
| Mr Nemtsov was shot at around 23:40 (20:40 GMT) on Friday while crossing Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge accompanied by a woman, Russia's interior ministry said. | Mr Nemtsov was shot at around 23:40 (20:40 GMT) on Friday while crossing Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge accompanied by a woman, Russia's interior ministry said. |
| He was shot with a pistol from a white car which fled the scene, a police source told Russia's Interfax news agency. | He was shot with a pistol from a white car which fled the scene, a police source told Russia's Interfax news agency. |
| According to Russian-language news website Meduza, "several people" got out of a car and shot him. | According to Russian-language news website Meduza, "several people" got out of a car and shot him. |
| One of the politician's colleagues in his RPR-Parnassus party, Ilya Yashin, confirmed Mr Nemtsov's death. | One of the politician's colleagues in his RPR-Parnassus party, Ilya Yashin, confirmed Mr Nemtsov's death. |
| "Unfortunately I can see the corpse of Boris Nemtsov in front of me now," he was quoted as saying by Russia's lenta.ru news website. | "Unfortunately I can see the corpse of Boris Nemtsov in front of me now," he was quoted as saying by Russia's lenta.ru news website. |
| Flowers were left at the site of the shooting through the night. | Flowers were left at the site of the shooting through the night. |
| Analysis: Sarah Rainsford, BBC Moscow correspondent | Analysis: Sarah Rainsford, BBC Moscow correspondent |
| A lawyer for Mr Nemtsov reported that he had received death threats over social media in recent months; but for now there's only speculation as to why he was targeted. He openly opposed Moscow's role in the crisis in Ukraine - and the annexation by Russia of Crimea. | A lawyer for Mr Nemtsov reported that he had received death threats over social media in recent months; but for now there's only speculation as to why he was targeted. He openly opposed Moscow's role in the crisis in Ukraine - and the annexation by Russia of Crimea. |
| He had been planning a rare public protest on Sunday against both things - and a growing economic crisis in this country. | He had been planning a rare public protest on Sunday against both things - and a growing economic crisis in this country. |
| Since his death, social media has been flooded with tributes to a man remembered as by friends as decent, honest and a democrat . He had been pushed to the political margins in Vladimir Putin's Russia, but he was still prominent enough for someone to want to kill him. | Since his death, social media has been flooded with tributes to a man remembered as by friends as decent, honest and a democrat . He had been pushed to the political margins in Vladimir Putin's Russia, but he was still prominent enough for someone to want to kill him. |
| Profile: Boris Nemtsov | Profile: Boris Nemtsov |
| 'Putin's aggression' | 'Putin's aggression' |
| In his last tweet, Mr Nemtsov sent out an appeal for Russia's divided opposition to unite at an anti-war march he was planning for Sunday. | In his last tweet, Mr Nemtsov sent out an appeal for Russia's divided opposition to unite at an anti-war march he was planning for Sunday. |
| "If you support stopping Russia's war with Ukraine, if you support stopping Putin's aggression, come to the Spring March in Maryino on 1 March," he wrote. | "If you support stopping Russia's war with Ukraine, if you support stopping Putin's aggression, come to the Spring March in Maryino on 1 March," he wrote. |
| Speaking earlier this month to Russia's Sobesednik news website, he had spoken of his fears for his own life. | Speaking earlier this month to Russia's Sobesednik news website, he had spoken of his fears for his own life. |
| "I'm afraid Putin will kill me," he said in the article (in Russian) on 10 February. | "I'm afraid Putin will kill me," he said in the article (in Russian) on 10 February. |
| "I believe that he was the one who unleashed the war in the Ukraine," he added. "I couldn't dislike him more." | "I believe that he was the one who unleashed the war in the Ukraine," he added. "I couldn't dislike him more." |
| Mr Putin has been widely accused of fomenting the bloody rebellion in east Ukraine - an accusation he denies. Fighting there followed Russia's annexation of Crimea in March last year. | Mr Putin has been widely accused of fomenting the bloody rebellion in east Ukraine - an accusation he denies. Fighting there followed Russia's annexation of Crimea in March last year. |
| Almost 5,800 people have died and at least 1.25 million have fled their homes, according to the UN. | Almost 5,800 people have died and at least 1.25 million have fled their homes, according to the UN. |
| The Ukrainian government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia is helping the rebels with heavy weapons and soldiers. | The Ukrainian government, Western leaders and Nato say there is clear evidence that Russia is helping the rebels with heavy weapons and soldiers. |
| Independent experts echo that accusation while Moscow denies it, insisting that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers". | Independent experts echo that accusation while Moscow denies it, insisting that any Russians serving with the rebels are "volunteers". |
| Are you in Russia? What is your reaction to the death of Boris Nemtsov? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Russia? What is your reaction to the death of Boris Nemtsov? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Have your say | Have your say |