Billionaire Enemy Of Putin Mysteriously Murdered In London
The sudden death of an exiled Georgian billionaire may have been another “Alexander Litvinenko-style” murder, it is feared.
A major crime squad is investigating the death of 52-year-old Badri Patarkatsishvili, whose body was found at his country mansion in Surrey at about 11pm last night.
His family said he suffered a heart attack - but Surrey Police have launched an investigation to confirm the exact cause of death after reports of a plot to kill him.
However, officers say there is no suggestion any radioactive substance were involved in his death.
Sky News’ home affairs correspondent Mark White said: “The police want to leave no stone uncovered.
“In the light of Litvinenko’s death in 2006 they are treating it very seriously and want to investigate properly to rule out foul play or to find out whether he was the subject of a hit.”
Mr Patarkatsishvili - Georgia’s richest man, with an estimated £6bn fortune - spoke recently of his fears for his life after one alleged plot against him was uncovered in London.
It has also been reported that an assassination plan bore chilling similarities to the killing of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.
Mr Litvinenko - an outspoken critic of the Putin regime - was killed by radiation poisoning in London. Moscow has refused to extradite the prime suspect, ex-KGB bodyguard Andrei Lugovoi.
Talking about Mr Patarkatsishvili’s death at his home Downside Manor outside Leatherhead, a spokeswoman for Surrey Police said: “As with all unexplained deaths, it is being treated as suspicious.
“A post-mortem examination will be held later today to establish the cause of death.”
(Sky)
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