July 10 (Bloomberg) -- Paul Klebnikov, the U.S.-born editor of Forbes Magazine in Russia, was shot dead yesterday in Moscow by unknown assailants, two months after publishing a list of Russia's hundred wealthiest people.

Klebnikov, 41, who investigated Russian businesses and wrote a biography in 2001 of fugitive Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky, titled ``Godfather of the Kremlin,'' was shot as he left work in Moscow, Forbes Inc. Chief Executive Officer Steve Forbes said.

Klebnikov was ``courageous, energetic and ever-curious,'' Forbes said in a statement on the company's Web site. ``He knew Russia well. It was a country he loved deeply.''

Forbes' Russian edition, first published in April, profiled businessmen who shunned publicity. Its list of wealthiest Russians was topped by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the main shareholder of oil producer OAO Yukos Oil Co. and worth an estimated $15.2 billion. Moscow has produced more dollar billionaires than any other city in the world, the survey said.

Klebnikov, a U.S. citizen who worked at Forbes since 1989, said that he had received threats after publishing the list, Russia's radio Ekho-Moskvy reported. In his first edition, Klebnikov said the Russian market was ready for the publication.

`More Civilized Russia'

``Russian business is coming to the new, more civilized stage of its development,'' he wrote. ``Russian business has been recognized in the West as part of the international community.''

Klebnikov, born in New York, graduated from Berkeley University and the London School of Economics.

His death was ``definitely linked to his professional activity,'' Leonid Bershidsky, chief executive of ZAO Axel Springer Russia, the publisher of Forbes's Russian edition, was quoted as saying on the radio station's Web site. Bershidsky didn't know which of the magazine's investigations prompted the murder, according to the Web site.

Klebnikov had planned to leave Russia soon and was seeking someone to replace him, Bershidsky was quoted as saying. Klebnikov may be succeeded by his deputy, Maxim Kashulinsky, Bershidsky said.

An article published by Forbes in 1996 made allegations about fugitive businessman Berezovsky, who was granted political asylum in the U.K. and is wanted in Russia on fraud charges, Agence-France Presse reported. Berezovsky filed a libel suit in England last year, forcing the magazine to retract the allegations.

Klebnikov was ``inaccurate on facts, which was proven by the English court,'' Berezovsky was quoted by Russia's Ria-Novosti news agency as saying from London on Saturday.

``Regretfully, he handled facts very arbitrarily and he invented much and probably someone didn't like it,'' the news agency cited Berezovsky as saying.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sri Jegarajah in Singapore at sjegarajah@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 10, 2004 04:29 EDT