Counter terror police launch probe after anti-Putin Russian mogul Nikolai Glushkov found dead in ‘unexplained circumstances’ with ‘strangulation marks’ at London home
Met Police confirmed they were investigating Glushkov's death, saying that Counter Terrorism Command officers had been called in 'as a precaution because of associations' that he was believed to have had
COUNTER terror police are investigating the death of exiled anti-Putin Russian mogul Nikolai Glushkov at his London home.
Cops say the 68-year-old's death is "unexplained" after his body was found with 'strangulation marks' just before 11pm last night.
It comes soon after ex-Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia, 33, were poisoned using a nerve agent developed in Russia.
Police are probing who targeted them, with Mrs May pointing the finger at Russia and giving Vladimir Putin a deadline to explain his country's involvement.
There is no suggestion the Salisbury poisoning was linked to Glushkov's death.
Russian newspaper Kommersant, owned by Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov, reported there were "traces of strangulation on his neck".
What we know so far:
- Anti-Putin Russian mogul Nikolai Glushkov was found dead with 'strangulation marks' at around 10.46pm last night
- Met Police confirmed the 68-year-old's death at his home in New Malden, South West London is being treated as 'unexplained'.
- Glushkov was a close friend of Putin critic Boris Berezovsky, who was discovered dead in 2013 in an apparent suicide.
- He was former deputy of Russian state airline Aeroflot and spent five years in jail due to money laundering and fraud.
- It comes after ex Russian spy Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury using a nerve agent manufactured in Russia.
Russian media claims Glushkov, a close friend of Putin critic Boris Berezovsky before he was killed in 2013, was found by his daughter.
A Met Police spokesperson said: "Officers attended and next of kin have been informed.
"Whilst we believe we know the identity of the deceased, formal identification is yet to take place. A post-mortem examination will be held in due course.
"The death is currently being treated as an unexplained. If there is a change in the status of the investigation, an update will be provided.
"At this stage the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation as a precaution because of associations that the man is believed to have had."
A number of blue forensic tents were erected outside Glushkov's home overnight, with officers pouring over the scene.
His body was found hours after the Prime Minister gave Putin until midnight to explain Russia's involvement in the Skripal poisoning in Salisbury.
The British government is reported to be considering a range of sanctions against Putin.
But the Russian Embassy responded by saying: "Any threat to take 'punitive' measures against Russia will meet with a response. The British side should be aware of that."
Police and MI5 are now expected to investigate 14 deaths with possible links to Russia.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd confirmed that security services were investigating, saying the UK "takes seriously any suggestion a foreign state has engaged in murder on UK soil".
Media tycoon Demyan Kudryavtysev shared a tribute to Glushkov, the former deputy director of Aeroflot, saying: "We have friends in common.
"They told me about his death. I do not know anything about the exact cause, but he was not young. He died in London, in his house."
Glushkov had previously been close friends with Putin critic Boris Berezovsky, later saying he did not believe his friend's death was due to natural causes.
WHO WAS GLUSHKOV?
Nikolai Glushkov was once one of the most powerful businessmen in Russia and instrumental in Vladimir Putin's rise to power before falling foul of the regime.
The 68-year-old former deputy director of Russian state airline Aeroflot spent five years in jail due to money laundering and fraud.
He was freed in 2004, eventually being granted political asylum in the UK.
Glushkov was a close friend of the late oligarch Boris Berezovsky, an outspoken Putin critic who was also convicted of having defrauded Aeroflot in the 1990s.
He gave evidence at a 2011 court case brought by Berezovsky against Roman Abramovich. After Berzovsky's death in 2013 Glushkov was vocal about his disbelief it was a suicide.
He claimed it was a politically motivated death and alleged that Berezovsky and Alexander Litvenienko had been on a hit-list.
In 2017 was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison in a case of $122million embezzlement from the airline - he was ordered to pay the entire sum back.
He has two grown up children, Natasha and Dima, and an ex-wife who lives in Moscow.
Berezovsky had been found dead in 2013 in an apparent suicide but an inquest into his death recorded an open verdict.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2013, Glushkov said: "I will never believe in the natural death of Boris Berezovsky."
He also added that he feared he was on a hit list, saying: "You have the deaths of Boris and Badri over a short period of time.
"Too many bodies are happening. I would say this is a little bit too much. I don't see anyone left on it apart from me."
GLUSHKOV ON PUTIN'S RUSSIA: In his own words
On Berezovsky in 2013: "You have the deaths of Boris and Badri over a short period of time. Too many bodies are happening. I would say this is a little bit too much."
On Berezovsky suicide theory: "Boris was strangled. Either he did it himself or with the help of someone. [But] I don't believe it was suicide."
About assassination hitlist: "I don't see anyone left on it apart from me."
His friend Berezovsky was once a powerful friend of Putin, but fled to London in 2000 after falling out with the Russian President.
Glushkov lived in the UK, in a home in Kingston, South West London, after being granted political asylum in the country in 2010.
A Russian radio station reported that Glushkov had been suffering from a rare blood disease hemochromatosis, which causes your body to absorb too much iron from your food.
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