MAKHACHKALA, November 24 (RIA Novosti) -- A parliamentary candidate has died after being shot and seriously wounded in an apparent assassination attempt in southern Russia, a local health official said on Saturday.

Farid Babayev, the leader of the liberal Yabloko party in the Republic of Daghestan, sustained four gunshot wounds, including one to the head, on Wednesday night.

"Babayev died of his wounds without regaining consciousness," he said.

Babayev was shot by unknown assailants at the entranceway of his apartment block in Makhachkala, the capital of the North Caucasus republic.

Yabloko is running in the December 2 election to the State Duma.