Putin’s one-time media enforcer killed by ‘blunt force trauma to the head’

A former aide to Russian president Vladimir Putin died from blunt force trauma to the head in a Washington hotel room, a post-mortem examination has shown. Media tycoon Mikhail Lesin, whose death in November sparked rumours he was murdered for turning FBI informat, also had injuries to the neck, torso, arms and legs. The 57-year-old’s death was 'undetermined" but remains under investigation, according to the District of Columbia’s Medical Examiner’s Office. Relatives had previously claimed he suffered a heart attack.

There are not enough grounds to speak about murder. He could have been nervous. He may have had health issues. It could have been suicide. But anyway, it smells fishy.

Human rights activist Pavel Chikov

Mr Lesin, nicknamed The Bulldozer, was a media adviser to Mr Putin and helped found the English-language news service Russia Today. His body was found after police were called to his room at the relatively modest Doyle Dupont Circle Hotel after concerns about his welfare. His death has prompted speculation, including that he was about to turn FBI informer and that he owed money to one of Mr Putin’s closes business advisers. Just weeks before he died, it was revealed he had fathered a child by glamorous model and flight attendant Victoria Rakhimbayeva, 29.

The U.S. side has not provided us with any substantive information. We are waiting for clarification from Washington and the relevant official details on the progress of the investigation.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova

mikhail lesin