Five on trial in Russia over Nemtsov murder

Moscow : Five men accused of the shock murder of top Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov in central Moscow faced the jury on Monday as their trial opened at a Russian military court. 

Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister and prominent opposition politician who openly criticised President Vladimir Putin, was gunned down late at night on February 27 last year as he walked home with his girlfriend across a bridge just yards from the Kremlin.

The suspects, all ethnic Chechens from Russia's volatile North Caucasus, pleaded not guilty as they stood in a glass cage, after being brought in to the packed courtroom under armed guard.  

Nemtsov's killing was the highest-profile slaying of a Putin foe since the  former KGB agent took the reins in 2000.

His family and friends insist the authorities have not uncovered the real masterminds of the alleged contract hit. 

"The murder of Boris Nemtsov has not been solved," said lawyer Olga Mikhailova, who represents his family.

"The organiser... has not been found and has not been brought to justice."

The man prosecutors say was the shooter -- Zaur Dadayev -- was a commander in Chechnya's interior ministry troops and Nemtsov's supporters have pointed the finger at those around the Kremlin-loyal leader of the region Ramzan Kadyrov.

Nemtsov -- who had a running feud with Kadyrov -- was at the time of his killing probing Moscow's covert deployment of troops to Ukraine and his murder sent a chill through Russia's marginalised opposition.