Vladimir Putin: Nemtsov's murder was shameful tragedy with political subtext

The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has said the murder of the Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov was a shameful tragedy that carried a political subtext. The Guardian reports.

Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister, was shot dead on Friday evening as he walked with his girlfriend near Red Square. He was the most prominent opposition figure to be killed in Russia during Putin’s 15-year rule.

The Kremlin has denied any involvement, saying the killing was a “provocation” designed to discredit Putin and strengthen his opponents, but Nemtsov’s friends say the Kremlin is to blame for fomenting an atmosphere of hatred towards its opponents.

Putin told officials from the interior ministry on Wednesday: “The most serious attention should be paid to high-profile crimes, including the ones with a political subtext. Russia should be devoid at last of the kind of shame and tragedies that we have recently endured and seen.

“I mean the murder, the audacious murder of Boris Nemtsov right in the centre of the capital.”

Law enforcement officials said one lead they were exploring was that the killing was linked to Nemtsov’s personal life or business dealings. Putin’s comments indicated that that version is now being discarded.

Authorities have not made any arrests. Earlier on Wednesday, the director of Russia’s Federal Security Service said an investigation had identified several suspects, without giving details.

Russian news agencies reported that investigators were seeking a car in connection to the killing that may be connected to the finance ministry.

The ministry said in a statement sent to Reuters that the car, a Ford, does not belong to the ministry itself but was owned by a state enterprise that provides security to government institutions, including the finance ministry.

The vehicle drove past the spot where Nemtsov was shot after the killing and when police patrol cars had already arrived at the scene, the statement said.