Israeli authorities have launched a manhunt for an assassin who fatally shot crime boss Yanis Yushvaev outside a petrol station in Caesarea on Sunday. The incident, captured on CCTV, shows a gunman approaching Yushvaev and shooting him at point-blank range in the back of the head before fleeing the scene.
Reports suggest the assailant used a hyperrealistic silicone mask to conceal their identity and escaped in a getaway vehicle that was later found abandoned and set ablaze in a nearby town.
Yushvaev, 40, was identified by Israeli police as the head of a crime group with ties to the Jewish Caucasus community. He had a history of arrests for violent crimes, including shootings, grenade attacks, and vehicle arson, although he was never convicted. In February, he was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport after a trip to Moscow but was released days later due to insufficient evidence.
In November of the previous year, a police spokesman described Yushvaev as the leader of a criminal gang involved in "blood feuds" during a court hearing related to a conspiracy charge. Despite his criminal activities, Yushvaev also owned a restaurant in Or Akiva and, in an interview last year, described himself as a "legitimate businessman." He noted that his possession of a Bentley sometimes drew police attention. An Israeli police source previously indicated to Channel 12 that convicting Yushvaev was difficult due to his avoidance of phone calls and the unwavering loyalty of his associates.
Emergency services pronounced Yushvaev dead at the scene, noting he had no pulse and significant injuries. Police have classified the killing as criminally motivated and deployed roadblocks and a helicopter in their search for the suspect.