Magadan region governor killed in Moscow's heart

Valentin Tsvetkov, Governor of the Magadan region, was killed near the building of the Federation Council, or the upper parliamentary house, which also accommodates representative offices of the Magadan and other regions of Russia, in Novy Arbat street in the very heart of Moscow at about 9 a.m. A Makarov pistol and a cartridge case were found at the site.

Composite pictures of the suspects are being made at the moment, according to Valery Gribakin, in charge of the information section of Moscow's interior department. He also said law-enforcers identified two cars the criminals had apparently escaped in. Investigators believe the killing was connected to Valentin Tsvetkov's gubernatorial activities.

President Vladimir Putin spoke to Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov and Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov on the phone instructing them to take the investigation into the murder under special control.