Moscow - The deputy chairwoman of the supreme court of one of Russia's northern Caucasian republics died Wednesday after being shot in an attack believed to be led by Islamist rebels, according to Russian news agencies quoting investigators. Ana Gazgireyeva was attacked as she was driving to work at the supreme court in the troubled Russian republic of Ingushetia. Five other people, including a one-year-old baby, were wounded in the attack.
Gazgireyeva had pursued criminal charges against Islamist rebel fighters in the past.
Last week, a sniper in the neighbouring republic of Dagestan killed that republic's interior minister and several other senior civil servants at a wedding celebration.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev embarked on a surprise visit to Dagestan on Tuesday to announce an effort to battle terrorists in the northern Caucasian republics.
Violence in the region, which includes Chechnya, has been on the rise in recent weeks as rebel groups fight Russian security forces.
