The head of Kabardino-Balkaria called the murder of an Islamic religious leader in the Russian North Caucasus republic "a challenge to the whole of society," Arsen Kanokov's press service said.
Anas Pshikhachev, 43, the head of the Muslim Spiritual Department of Kabardino-Balkaria, was shot dead on Wednesday. He died at the site of the attack.
"This murder is a challenge to the whole of society, to the people of Kabardino-Balkaria. We should unite and prevent the criminals from escaping responsibility," Kanokov said.
"They will be found and punished with all the rigor of the law," he said, adding that Pshikhachev "consecutively fought extremism" with his religious activity.
Pshikhachev will be buried in Nalchik on Thursday.
NALCHIK, December 16 (RIA Novosti)
