Georgian PM Garibashvili “shocked” by Nemtsov’s death

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is "deeply shocked” by the death of Boris Nemtsov, leading Russian opposition politician and former Deputy Prime Minister.

Nemtsov was shot four times in the back by an unidentified attacker in a drive-by shooting as he crossed a bridge near the Kremlin just before midnight last night.

He was killed a few hours after appealing for support for a march on Sunday in Moscow against the war in Ukraine.

"I’m deeply shocked by the terrible tragedy that happened in the centre of Moscow – one of the most outstanding Russian politicians has been killed,” Garibashvili wrote on his official Facebook page earlier this afternoon.

"I categorically condemn this terrible violence and I hope the offenders will be identified and will be punished under the law.”

Georgia’s Foreign Ministry also expressed its "deep sadness” over Nemtsov’s death and hoped the investigation into this case would be transparent.

In a recent interview, Nemtsov had said he feared Russian President Vladimir Putin would have him killed because of his opposition to the war in Ukraine.

Nemtsov, 55, served as first deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s.

He earned a reputation as an economic reformer while governor of one of Russia's biggest cities, Nizhny Novgorod.

After falling out of favour with Yeltsin's successor, Putin, Nemtsov became an outspoken opposition politician.