President Putin's Critic Who Fled To Ukraine Assassinated By Gunman In Broad Daylight

A Russian MP who fled Moscow fearing for his life at the hands of President Putin's secret service was assassinated today in the Ukrainian capital Kiev. Denis Voronenkov, who had testified against the pro-Russian former Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, was shot dead in broad daylight by an assassin with a 9mm handgun.

His bodyguard was injured but fired back, fatally wounding the gunman, who died a few hours later.

The 45-year-old fled Moscow in October with his wife Maria Maksakova, an opera singer, saying they were fed up of the 'schizophrenic' Russian government.

Maksakova, who had a son with Voronenkov last year, rushed to the scene of the shooting outside a luxury hotel today and broke down in tears.

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said it was an 'act of state terrorism' by Russia and added: 'It clearly shows the handwriting of Russian special services shown repeatedly in various European capitals in the past.'

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: 'We believe that all the falsehoods that can already be heard about much-hyped Russian involvement are absurd.'

The bodyguard, who was a member of the Ukrainian security services, remains in hospital.

The Ukrainian authorities said the assassin had been identified as a Ukrainian citizen, although he may be an ethnic Russian from the breakaway east of the country or from the Crimea.

He was shot three or four times and died from wounds to his chest and head.

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