Ex-KGB agent gunned down in Moscow

Shabattai Kalmanovich. Photo / AP

MOSCOW - A Russian businessman who had been convicted in Israel of being a KGB spy was shot dead in Moscow yesterday.

Shabattai Kalmanovich, 60, was gunned down near his apartment in central Moscow after unidentified gunmen opened fire on his Mercedes from a passing car. His driver was wounded, but tried to pursue the car for several blocks.

The killing appeared to have been carefully planned, and investigators are looking for at least two gunmen, Moscow Investigative Committee head Anatoly Bagmet said.

Born in Soviet Lithuania in 1949, Kalmanovich and his family emigrated to Israel in 1971.

He reportedly agreed to spy for the KGB in return for an emigration permit.

In Israel, Kalmanovich eventually became a government adviser on the resettlement of Soviet Jews.

He also worked as Israel's representative in Sierra Leone.

An Israeli court in 1988 convicted him of espionage and sentenced him to seven years in jail.

He was released after serving five years and relocated to Sierra Leone, where he made a fortune in the diamonds trade.

Since 1994, Kalmanovich worked in Moscow as director-general of the large Tishinsky shopping centre.

He also sponsored three basketball clubs, and was chief executive of Spartak's women's basketball team.

- AP