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Kremlin slams absurd claims about alleged ‘Russian link’ to politician's murder

Peskov noted that Ukraine "had proved unable to take care of Voronenkov’s security"

Law enforcement officers at the site of Denis Voronenkov's murder, Kiev, March 23 Piotr Sivkov/TASS

Law enforcement officers at the site of Denis Voronenkov's murder, Kiev, March 23

© Piotr Sivkov/TASS

MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/. Moscow believes that any claims about a ‘Russian connection’ in the killing of Russia’s former State Duma member Denis Voronenkov in Kiev are absurd and hopes that all those responsible for the crime will be tracked down, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

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Former member of Russia’s State Duma gunned down in Kiev

"We believe that all speculations about a Russian connection are absurd," Peskov told the media. Thursday’s incident, he said, was evidence Ukraine had proved unable to take care of Voronenkov’s security.

"We hope that the killer and those behind the murder will be exposed," Peskov said.

Voronenkov was gunned down in a shootout in Kiev, the chief of Kiev’s police force, Andrey Krishchenko said earlier. The incident occurred in broad daylight at the entrance to Premier-Palace Hotel.

"One man was killed and two others injured. They are in hospital now. The identity of the killed man has been established. He is a Russian politician, former State Duma member. Yes, I confirm that he is Denis Voronenkov," Krishchenko said.

Voronenkov was a member of the Communist faction in the previous, 6th State Duma. In December 2014 Russia’s Investigative Committee asked the State Duma to strip him of immunity in connection with a criminal case over a hostile takeover of a building in the center of Moscow. In April 2015 the IC asked the Prosecutor-General’s Office for permission to indict Voronenkov on criminal charges. On February 15, 2017 a decision was made to bring him to justice in the capacity of an accused on falsification and fraud charges.

Late last year Voronenkov emigrated to Kiev where he acquired Ukrainian citizenship.

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