Khadzhimurad Kamalov, a journalist and founder of political newspaper Chernovik (Rough Copy), was shot dead in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, a spokesman for the local investigation committee said on Friday.
Kamalov was killed by an unknown suspect late on Thursday night in central Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.
“According to information we obtained, the crime took place on the Magomed Gadzhiyev street at 23:30 Moscow time [19:30 GMT] near the office of the newspaper that was run by Kamalov,” the spokesman said.
He added that a group of investigators continue working at the scene of the crime establishing details of the murder.
Over 70 journalists have been killed in Russia since 1992, according to the U.S.-based journalists’ welfare group Committee to Protect Journalists. It says 52 of those were murdered in direct reprisal for their work.
Dagestan sees frequent militant attacks on police officers and officials. The restive republic saw around 50% of all terrorist attacks in Russia in 2010.