Boris Berezovsky found dead in his Surrey (U.K.) home.

[Retired AF Guy]

From the UK Daily Mail:

Boris Berezovsky, the British-based Russian oligarch who was one of Vladimir Putin’s fiercest opponents, was found dead at his home yesterday.

The exiled 67-year-old tycoon, reported to be ‘found in his bath’ by his bodyguard at his estate in Ascot, Berkshire, was to be a key witness in the inquest of murdered spy Alexander Litvinenko.

Family and friends said the tycoon had been suffering from depression over harassment from the Russian state and had been contemplating suicide.

He had survived a number of assassination attempts after falling out with Russian president Putin, including a bomb that decapitated his chauffeur in 1994. And last year he lost a court battle with fellow oligarch and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, which cost him more than £130 million.

More, including photos at Article Link

 

[Robert0288]

I read Surrey and immediately thought BC.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

I read Surrey and immediately thought BC.

Fixed it.

 

[Chelomo]

This is big, Berezovsky helped a lot of the opposition in Russia, and had hands in many pies, including (Some say) the Thieves in Law (Russian mafia). While I certainly won't weep over his death, it will certainly change some things in the European playing field. Thanks for sharing Retired AF Guy, I didn't even hear about it before reading it here.

 

[Retired AF Guy]

And it just gets weirder and weirder. The latest from the BBC:

Boris Berezovsky died by hanging, police say

25 March 2013 Last updated at 19:18 ET

A post-mortem examination has found Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky's death was "consistent with hanging", police have said.

Mr Berezovsky, 67, was found dead by an employee on Saturday on a bathroom floor at his home in Berkshire.

The examination found nothing to indicate a violent struggle. More tests are to be carried out on the body.

Thames Valley Police said investigations at the property would continue for several days.

They had earlier said there was no evidence so far that a "third party" was involved.

Mr Berezovsky's body was removed from the property in Mill Lane, Ascot overnight on Sunday.

The results of further tests, including toxicology and histology examinations, were likely to take several weeks, police said.

Crime officers have been carrying out forensic examinations at the property and "these are expected to last several days".

"A cordon will remain in place until this work has been completed, to protect the scene," Det Ch Insp Kevin Brown said on Sunday afternoon.

"While this important investigative work continues, we are unable to comment on any items found within the property."
Boris Berezovsky Boris Berezovsky had lived in Britain since 2000

Mr Berezovsky's body was reportedly found by an employee, who called an ambulance at 15:18 GMT on Saturday.

He had not been seen since around 22:30 GMT the previous evening.

Diminished wealth

Mr Berezovsky emigrated to the UK in 2000.

He amassed a fortune in the 1990s following the privatisation of state assets after the collapse of Soviet communism.

He survived numerous assassination attempts, including a bomb that decapitated his chauffeur.

In 2003 he was granted political asylum in Britain on the grounds that his life would be in danger in Russia.

He was married twice and had six children - two with each of his wives and two with a long-term partner.

The tycoon's wealth is thought to have considerably diminished in recent years, leaving him struggling to pay debts in the wake of costly court cases.

In 2011, Mr Berezovsky reportedly lost more than £100m in a divorce settlement. And, last year, he lost a £3bn ($4.7bn) damages claim against Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich.

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