A leading Russian opposition politician, former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, has been shot dead in Moscow, the Russian police informed TASS news agency of Russia. 

According to the source, a white car had approached Nemtsov and four shots were fired from the vehicle. Subsequently, the car fled the scene, whereas Nemtsov died on the spot.

He was a founder of Solidarnost (Solidarity), a Russian liberal democratic political movement, and a leading Russian opposition figure. 

In recent years, Boris Nemtsov was one of the most influential and well-known critics of President Vladimir Putin.