Investigators consider Zherukov's professional activities as pretext for his murder

Among the versions of the murder of the rector of the Kabardino-Balkarian State Agrarian University (KBSAU) Boris Zherukov, his professional activities are considered. Law enforcement officials do not exclude that militants could be involved in the crime.

Boris Zherukov, who was heading the faction of the "Edinaya Rossiya" (United Russia) Party at the national parliament, was shot dead by unidentified persons today in his workplace. Two persons came into his office at the university and shot twice in his head; then, they fled.

"Investigators consider several versions of the murder, including the professional activities of the rector. It is not ruled out that the crime could be committed by members of illegal armed formations (IAFs), operating in the territory of the republic," said Vladimir Markin, the spokesman of the ICRF, as quoted by the RIA "Novosti".

According to eyewitnesses, the killers went to the rector with some papers, allegedly to receive his signature; his female secretary, who tried to stop them, was taken away to the next room. The faces of the gunmen were not covered; they were fixed by surveillance video cameras.