Russia-watchers-or readers of spy novels-may be unsurprised to learn that the sudden death of a former Vladimir Putin aide in a Washington, DC, hotel last fall now appears a little fishy.
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Mikhail Lesin, Russia’s former press minister and an aide to president Vladimir Putin, found dead in a Washington D.C. hotel past year, died of blows to his head, U.S investigators announced late Thursday as the mystery surrounding the top official’s death deepened.
The investigation into his death found that the cause was a blow to the head. Credited for setting up Russia Today, the nation’s first state-funded English-language news channel, he was known as one the country’s most influential media operators and a long-time confidant to President Putin.
Lesin’s sudden death triggered a host of conspiracy theories in Russian Federation, but Washington police cautioned it was too early to jump to conclusions and stressed that the medical examiner had concluded that the manner of death was “undetermined”.
A USA law enforcement source said on Thursday the investigation into Lesin’s death was being led by Washington, D.C. police.
Russian media had reported he had suffered a heart attack and cited relatives.
Following the revelations from the United States authorities, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova complained on Facebook that numerous calls from the Russian embassy in Washington enquiring into the circumstances of Mr Lesin’s death had not been answered.
Sternbeck and the medical examiner’s office could not immediately be reached for comment.
Mikhail Lesin, 57, was found dead on the floor of his room in Dupont Circle on November 5.
The autopsy was completed this week and results released initially to Lesin’s family and then to the media, she said.
“The American side did not provide us with any substantial information”. Lesin is also widely credited as the creator of global broadcaster RT.
The Senator cited Lesin’s properties in Europe, the British Virgin Islands, and Los Angeles, saying the Los Angeles properties were worth $28 million, New York Times reported.
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Lesin had been under scrutiny by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department for potential money laundering. “That a Russian public servant could have amassed the considerable funds required to acquire and maintain these assets raises serious questions”, Mr Wicker said.
