[2][7] Two gunmen approached the two asking Gekkiyev to confirm his identity as the television news anchor, and when he answered yes, they shot the journalist dead on the spot and fled the scene leaving his co-worker unharmed.

[citation needed] The Investigatory Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) established the suspect in the murder of Kazbek Gekkiev as 30-year-old Zeitun Boziev, who is also lived in Nalchick.

[13] Kazbek Gekkiyev was the seventh journalist killed in the North Caucus Region of Russia in ten years in connection to his work.

In 2009 Natalya Estemirova, journalist and human rights activist, was abducted in Chechnya and her body was later located with gunshot wounds.

In 2005, violence in the region reached its highest point when dozens were killed at different government sites throughout Nalchik, after many simultaneous attacks planned by hundreds of militants were performed.

The insurgents complain of unfair treatment from authorities, police efforts to stop the violence, and tension between different ethnic groups between Balkars and Kabardians in Kabardino-Balkaria and others.

[9][7] Irina Bokova, director-general of UNESCO, publicly condemned the murder of Russian journalist Kazbek Gakkiyev and encouraged authorities to do their most to bring justice to his killers.

Bringing the perpetrators to justice will send a clear sign to those who commit such acts that attempting to silence the media is not an option.

"[11] Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media urged the authorities to put an end to the impunity by investigating of all killings of journalists.

A popular television presenter and member of the presidential Public Chamber does not agree with Cherkasov and does not believe that Gekkiyev's death was politically motivated.