Local lawmaker shot dead in Kabardino-Balkaria

A top regional lawmaker in the Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkaria was shot dead on Tuesday in an apparent contract killing, RIA Novosti reports.

Boris Zherukov, who is also the rector of the Kabardino-Balkaria State Agricultural University, was killed at his office in Nalchik by two unidentified men who then fled the scene.

Zherukov led the ruling United Russia party's faction in the regional legislature.