MOSCOW, September 9 (Itar-Tass) - The Russian Investigative Committee launched a pre-investigation inquiry over the murder of Russian diplomat Dmitry Vishernev in the Caucasus Republic of Abkhazia, spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass on Monday.

Russia takes the murder of Russian Vice-Consul Dmitry Vishernev in Sukhum as a horrible crime, which is aimed at undermining peace and stability in Abkhazia and the region as a whole, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated on Monday.

“Together with our Abkhazian colleagues we take the fact of a cool-blooded murder of the Russian diplomat and an attempt on the life of his wife as a horrible crime that is aimed at undermining friendly Russian-Abkhazian relations, peace and stability in Abkhazia and the region as a whole,” Russia's Foreign Minnistry stated.

First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Abkhazia and Vice-Consul Dmitry Vishernev was shot down at around 8:30am   Moscow time on Monday in Sukhum. His wife Olga Vishernev, who is an employee of the Russian embassy, was heavily wounded.

The Abkhazian prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal case under three articles of the Abkhazian Criminal Code for premeditated murder, attempted premeditated murder of two people and illegal acquisition and storage of firearms and an explosive device.