in

US investigation: ex-Putin aide Mikhail Lesin died of ‘blow to the head’

US investigation: ex-Putin aide Mikhail Lesin died of 'blow to the head'
According to the Washington DC's chief medical examiner, a former aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin Mikhail Lesin, who was found dead in the US last year, died of a blow to the head

Former Russian press minister also had blunt force injuries to the neck, torso, arms and legs, the chief medical examiner said, Joinfo.ua reports with reference to BBC.

Mikhail Lesin, former Russian press minister and head of the powerful Gazprom-Media Holding group, was found at the city’s Dupont Circle hotel in November.

After his death, his family members were quoted by Russian media as saying that he had a heart attack.

Lesin was for a long time considered one of the most influential figures on the Russian media scene and in the corridors of power.

He worked as an aide to the presidency between 2004 and 2009, when he helped advise on the creation of the news channel Russia Today (now known as RT).

He resigned from Gazprom-Media in 2014. After his death, President Putin spoke of Lesin’s “enormous contribution” to Russian media.

The chief medical examiner provided no further details from the post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said the case remained under investigation, the Washington Post reported.

He declined to say whether the post-mortem examination results meant a crime may have been committed.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was now expecting “clarification from Washington and relevant official data on the progress of the investigation”.

What do you think?

Barack Obama: Russia's position in the world “significantly diminished”

Barack Obama: Russia’s position in the world “significantly diminished”

North Korean media: Kim Jong Un orders more nuclear tests

North Korean media: Kim Jong Un orders more nuclear tests