Saint Petersburg University of Service and Economy rector Alexander Viktorov was shot and killed on Wednesday evening in the city of Vsevolozhsk (7 kilometers outside Saint Petersburg). The investigators believe it was a premeditated contract murder connected to the rector's profession.

Viktorov, 61, and his wife drove to their house on Yagodnaya street in their service car, they left it near house № 6. After their car left, a man came up to them and shoot them with a silenced pistol. Two bullets hit Viktorov, in the head and back, he died on spot. His wife Yelena Viktorova was shot in the thigh. One bullet and four casings were later found at the crime scene, all 9mm. The killer likely used a Makarov pistol.

The investigators are sure that it was a contract kill.

"The service car was followed, there were probably several murderers," a source in Saint Petersburg law enforcement told Gazeta.ru.
The main theory of the investigation is that the murder was connected to the professional activities of the victim, but also police works on other motives, checking if the Victorovs were on good terms with their neighbours, and also checking on their accounts.

Earlier, Alexander Viktorov headed the committee for Science and Higher Education with the administration of Saint Petersburg and was one of the few ranking officials who worked with two different governors – Vladimir Yakovlev and Valentina Matvienko.

In July 2008 Viktorov retired from the administration and was appointed rector of the Saint Petersburg University of Service and Economy. There was a scandal during his appointment: Viktorov accused his predecessor Valery Soloviev of squandering the budget and of fraud.