Russian anti-graft prosecutor killed by hitman

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The prosecutor of Russia's Volga region of Saratov was killed overnight and police believe his murder could be linked to his anti-corruption drive, Russian media reported on Thursday.

Yevgeny Grigoryev died late on Wednesday from gunshot wounds after an unknown person armed with a pistol with a silencer attacked him near his apartment in the courtyard of the regional prosecutor's headquarters.

"Police do not exclude that the prosecutor's professional activity could be the main motive behind the killing," Vesti-24 television channel said.

Grigoryev was known as an uncompromising fighter against organized crime who initiated regional laws to fight corruption, media reports said.

(Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Janet Lawrence)