Authorities in Daghestan say the deputy sports minister of the violence-plagued Russian North Caucasus republic has been shot dead.
An Interior Ministry spokesman said Nasir Gadzhikhanov, a former European champion wrestler, died after his car came under automatic weapons fire late on May 29 in the Daghestani capital, Makhachkala.
Nasir Gadzhikhanov
There was no immediate word on a possible motive for the killing.
Police said they have opened a criminal investigation and were pursuing several leads.
Gadzhikhanov was the world freestyle silver medalist in 1990 in the 74-kilogram class and a three-time European champion.
Daghestan, which neighbors Chechnya, sees frequent attacks on police and officials linked to the battle against Islamist militants, as well as violence connected to organized crime groups.
Based on reporting by AP, Interfax, and ITAR-TASS