BBC News Online: World: Europe

Moscow media boss murdered

Mr Kanevsky owned much of Moscow's billboard market

One of Russia's top advertising executives has been murdered in a business-related shooting in Moscow, which police believe was most likely a contract killing.

Vladimir Kanevsky was shot dead by a gunman who wrenched open the door to his car as it stopped at a traffic light.

The four bodyguards driving with Mr Kanevsky apparently had no time to react, and he died on the spot from three gunshot wounds.

Mr Kanevsky's firm controls around 90% of the capital's billboard advertising, a market worth tens of millions of dollars.

Insufficient

This is the highest-profile contract killing in Russia so far this year.

There are usually several hundred every year, but few are ever solved.

Many wealthy Russian businessmen employ bodyguards and drive armoured vehicles.

But it's still not enough, it seems, to prevent a determined assassin.