“Power” trauma: what is known about the circumstances of the death of Mikhail Lesin – RBC

The former press minister of Russia and the former head of” Gazprom-Media “holding Mikhail Lesin

Photo: TASS

After four months of investigation, US authorities reported the death of a former adviser to President Mikhail Lesin came not from a heart attack . The cause was blunt head trauma. As they were received – not specified

The cause of death of the former Minister of Press of Russia and the former head of holding “Gazprom-Media” Mikhail Lesin was “blunt force trauma to the head,” said a joint statement the office medical examiner for the District of Columbia and the police Washington. 59-year-old received the Lesin and neck injuries, trunk and upper and lower extremities. Character death (whether a natural or a violent death, suicide or accident) is not set, the statement said. The police “continues to investigate the incident».

According to the National Association of medical experts, 90% of inquiries in relation to the cause of death must be completed within 90 days. The term may be increased, if the clarification of the cause of death specialists face difficulties. Yassin’s death investigation was conducted over 4 months. Just two days ago – on March, 9 – channel ABC7, with reference to the statement of forensic office, he said that the county medical examiners Colombia found it difficult to name the reason of death of the former head of “Gazprom-Media” Mikhail Lesin and that doctors will continue to find out why he died

On the death of Yassin became known Nov. 6, 2015. It was discovered in the room Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington. Later, ABC News channel specified that Yassin’s body was found in the morning on 5 November. This information was confirmed in the Russian embassy. They explained that the maid found the body of Yassin. Then it was reported that, according to preliminary data, the signs of violent death were noted. Former adviser to the Russian president was buried in Los Angeles.

The American authorities did not officially commented on the death of Mikhail Lesin. RIA Novosti reported with reference to the family of ex-minister wrote that he died of a heart attack. However, officially friends and relatives Yassin did not comment on his death.

Over the past few months in the media discussed the different versions of Yassin’s death. American and Russian media have separately noted the strangeness of the fact that Lesin for budget hotels in Washington, with rooms at $ 240 per night. In addition, how to write, “Radio Liberty”, Lesin was found without documents.

One of the friends Lesin said in December RBC that investigation into the death of Washington Yassin led the criminal police department. However, according to him, it was not due to the violent nature of his death, and the fact that according to the police, along with the Lesin in the room at the other people were. The cause of death was a weak heart and an overdose of alcohol, the source said.

In 2014, US Senator Roger Wicker addressed to the US Attorney General to conduct an investigation against Mikhail Lesin, whom he suspected of violating the law on combating corruption and money laundering using offshore companies. The senator argued that Lesin, being an official, purchased in Europe’s assets, including real estate, valued at millions of dollars. In addition, Wicker noted that Mikhail Lesin moved his family to the United States, bought in Los Angeles a few houses worth more than $ 28 million. The publication The Daily Beast wrote in January that the FBI and US Justice Department have closely followed the Yassin activities, which , moreover, they were at home in California. The Daily Beast wrote that Lesin could negotiate a deal with the US authorities, so that they stopped the investigation against him in exchange for information about Russian officials and businessmen and hence Yassin could have been killed to prevent the deal.

Former Minister, businessman and head of the largest media holdings in the country, Lesin more than 20 years has been one of the key figures in the Russian media market. In 1997, he became the first deputy head of VGTRK. In 1999-2004, Lesin served as Minister of Press, Broadcasting and Mass Communications. Within five years (2004 to 2009) Lesin worked as an adviser to the president of Russia, and from 2013 to January 2015 he served as chairman of the board of holding “Gazprom-Media”. In 2015, Lesin prokinul office.

In the “Gazprom-Media” care Yassin to resign for family reasons explained. Instead, he took the post of the head of the holding Dmitry Chernyshenko. Sources from Lesina environment in conversation with “Vedomosti” noted that he could leave his post because of disagreements with the leadership of the federal TV channels. According to a source publication, television executives complained Lesina owner of “National Media Group” (NMG), Yury Kovalchuk, who – Russian President Vladimir Putin