MAKHACHKALA, Russia — The Interior Ministry says the deputy sports minister of Russia's violence-plagued Dagestan, a former silver medalist in wrestling, has been shot to death in the republic's capital.
Interior Ministry spokesman Vyacheslav Gasanov says Nasir Gadzhikhanov died after his car came under automatic weapons fire late Tuesday, May 29, in Makhachkala.
There was no immediate information on possible motive. Dagestan suffers frequent attacks on police and officials by Islamic insurgents as well as a high level of violence connected to crime groups.
Gadzhikhanov was the world freestyle silver medalist in 1990 in the 74-kilogram (163-pound) class and a three-time European champion.
