Russian opposition website owner shot dead

31 Aug, 2008 14:58 / Updated 16 years ago

A criminal case involving manslaughter has been launched into the killing of the owner of an opposition website in Russia's southern republic of Ingushetia. Magomed Yevloyev was shot shortly after being detained by police in the airport of the capital Mag

The circumstances of the incident are still unclear, but preliminary reports say careless weapon handling may have been the cause. According to Prime-Tass news agency, Yevloyev tried to seize a policeman's gun when he was being led to a vehicle and a shot was fired. Magomed Yevloyev died in hospital hours later. The site Ingushetiya.ru was closed down earlier this year after being accused of extremism by the authorities.