A criminal case has been launched over the murder of Dagestan's Deputy Mufti Akhmed-Khadzhi Tagayev. The clergyman was shot on his way home on Monday.

The investigators consider Tagayev's professional activities to be the main reason behind the murder.

The Deputy Mufti was known as a zealous opponent of Islamic extremism. He regularly highlighted religious problems in mass media.

At the Spiritual Governance for Muslims of Dagestan, Tagayev was responsible for connections with the media. In the last few years he was actively engaged in public activities. In particular, he was the chairman of the “For Morality” social movement.