One strangled, one shot ... Two more victims join Russia's toll of murdered journalists

Gadzhi Abashilov, a well-known broadcaster and TV chief from the troubled region, was shot dead yesterday when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his car in Makhachkala, regional capital of Dagestan in the North Caucasus mountains.

Caucasus connection: Murdered Russian journalists Gadzhi Abashilov and Ilyas Shurpayev

 

The killing came hours after the body of television journalist Ilyas Shurpayev, originally from Dagestan, was found strangled in his Moscow flat.

Mr Abashilov, 58, had been chairman of the Dagestan State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company for a year, and had previously presented his own TV programme.

He died when gunmen fired on his car outside a supermarket in the North Caucasus. His driver was injured.

The Russian prosecutor general's office said federal investigators would be investigating the killing.

Police said the body of Mr Shurpayev, 32, was found by firefighters when they arrived to put out a fire in his flat.

His killers appeared to have strangled him with a belt and then started the fire before leaving.