RUSSIA: Gunmen have murdered a Russian central banker who led a fight against money-laundering in the highest profile assassination during President Vladimir Putin's six years in power.
Andrei Kozlov (41) died in hospital yesterday from gunshot wounds, hours after assassins ambushed him as he left a football match.
Police hunting the killers later found two pistols near the scene of the crime, a spokesman for the Moscow prosecutor's office said. No arrests have yet been made.
The murder of Mr Kozlov, a first deputy chairman at the bank, plunged Russia's financial establishment into shock. With his department closing crooked banks at the rate of two or three a week, the central banker had no shortage of enemies.
"He was at the cutting edge of the battle against financial crime," finance minister Alexei Kudrin said. "He was a very brave and honest man and through his activity he repeatedly encroached on the interests of unprincipled financiers."
Police said Mr Kozlov's murder had all the hallmarks of a contract killing. It was uncomfortable news for Mr Putin, who has consistently trumpeted the stability he has brought in the year Moscow heads the G8 group.
Russia has about 1,200 banks. Many are tiny and banking experts say malpractice is common.
Mr Kozlov led an outspoken drive to clean up the system and advocated tougher penalties for financiers who broke the law.
"They assassinated Kozlov because he withdrew bank licences," said Vladislav Reznik, chairman of the State Duma financial committee. "It is horrible that these attacks still happen in Russia." - (Reuters)