Air defense company official shot dead in Moscow.

MOSCOW, July 31 (Itar-Tass) -- A senior official of the Almaz-Antei
company that designs and produces air and missile defense systems was shot
dead in Moscow late on Thursday in an apparent contract killing, police
said.

Company department head Andrei Barabenkov, 54, was shot in the head in
western Moscow, police spokesman told Tass adding it was preliminary
information.
"Most likely it was a contract killing," he said.
Moscow interior department refused to officially identify the victim,
but said it is investigating the killing.
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