On June 19, 2004, one of Russia's leading experts on nationalism and racism, Nikolai Girenko, was assassinated in St. Petersburg. The 64-year-old scientist was killed in his St. Petersburg apartment. At about 11 am, someone rang the doorbell and asked for Nikolai Mikhailovich. To the question of Girenko, who came to the door: “Who’s there?” a shot rang out. The bullet pierced the door and hit the scientist in the shoulder.