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President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday condemned the killing of prominent Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.

Obama said in a statement that Nemtsov was brutally murdered. He called on Russia's government to "conduct a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his murder and ensure that those responsible for this vicious killing are brought to justice."

Nemtsov is a former deputy prime minister who later became a prominent opposition leader and a sharp critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The 55-year-old was shot and killed early Saturday in Moscow just outside of the Kremlin.

Obama called Nemtsov a "tireless advocate" for Russia and for the rights of Russian citizens, and praised Nemtsov for fighting corruption. Obama and Nemtsov met in Moscow in 2009.

In a separate statement, Kerry said Nemtsov "sought to reform and open Russia, and to empower the Russian people to have a greater say in the life of their country. His absence will be deeply felt in Russia and around the world."

The killing comes as the U.S. and Russia are at odds over Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine.

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Obama Condemns 'Brutal Murder' of Russian Opposition Figure