KIEV, March 23. /TASS/. Former member of Russia’s State Duma Denis Voronenkov has been killed in a shootout in Kiev, the head of the city’s police force, Andrey Krishchenko, has said.

"There was a fire exchange in front of the entrance to Premier-Palace Hotel about 40 minutes ago. One man was killed and two other persons injured. The identity of the killed man has been established. He is a Russian politician, former State Duma member. Yes, I can confirm that he is Denis Voronenkov," Krishchenko said.

According to the police official the attacker injured Voronenkov’s bodyguard, who managed to fire a return shot. The police suspect a contract killing.

Voronenkov emigrated to Ukraine in October 2016 to have abdicated his Russian citizenship. He has been a Ukrainian citizen since last December. He has been on a federal wanted list in Russia since February 15, 2017 and on an international wanted list since February 27, 2017. He was charged with masterminding major fraud.

It is also known that Voronenkov testified to the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General’s Office in a high treason case opened against Ukraine’s former president, Viktor Yanukovich.