"Caucasian mafia" leader shot dead in Israel PHOTO

Israeli media have reported that Yanis Yushvayev, described by local outlets as the head of the “Caucasian mafia”, has been killed.

Yushvayev was shot at a petrol station, according to Kan News, while Ynet reported that the attack took place as he was leaving a restaurant. He was taken to hospital in critical condition and later died.

The suspects fled the scene by car and police are searching for them.

Haaretz reported that police considered Yushvayev one of Israel’s most dangerous criminals. His organisation operated in the Sharon area and was involved in extortion, the newspaper said.

Police are concerned that the killing could trigger retaliation by other criminal groups.

Yushvayev had been a key police target and had been linked to investigations into car arson and threats against businessmen, although he had not been charged, Ynet reported. Kan News said he had been detained dozens of times over the past two years on suspicion of attacks involving tear gas, but was released each time.

Yushvayev had described himself as a “legitimate businessman who drives a Bentley”.

His lawyer told Reshet that Yushvayev was a “family man and legitimate businessman” who would have laughed at reports portraying him as a “mafia boss”.

By Aghakazim Guliyev