Cyprus investigates sinister' death of Russian diplomat said to have been GRU spy

"The death comes as police also seek to get to the bottom of a corruption scandal rocking the country. The Russian embassy refused to hand Cypriot authorities the suicide note reportedly written by the late diplomat Alexei Panov, 41, or allow access to the crime scene. Instead, police were forced to retrieve the body in the courtyard of the diplomatic compound. We had requested permission to enter the embassy but it was denied, said Vyronos."

"Independent researcher Dmitry Khmelnitsky, who writes about Russia from Berlin, said Panov had been an officer in Moscow's military intelligence agency, the GRU, assertions echoed by well-placed Cypriot insiders. While in Cyprus he oversaw the embassy's maintenance and management of espionage equipment, Khmelnitsky was quoted as saying on the Telegram channel Echo. The prospect of him wanting to defect could not be ruled out, Khmelnitsky said."

"Panov's death came within 24 hours of Vladislav Baumgertner, the former CEO of the Russian potash giant Uralkali being reported missing in Cyprus. By Tuesday, the search for Baumgertner, 56, had broadened to include personnel from the British sovereign base areas. The oligarch, who had been living alone on the island, was last seen in Limassol, the coastal city favoured by Russian expatriates, where he had a ho"

Cyprus authorities are investigating the unnatural death of 41-year-old diplomat Alexei Panov at the Russian embassy in Nicosia after an autopsy indicated suicide. The Russian embassy refused permission for Cypriot police to enter and declined to hand over a reportedly written suicide note, forcing officers to retrieve the body from the embassy courtyard. The family received assistance and support. Independent researcher Dmitry Khmelnitsky and Cypriot insiders allege Panov was a GRU officer who managed embassy maintenance and espionage equipment, and the possibility of attempted defection was raised. Panov's death occurred within 24 hours of the reported disappearance of oligarch Vladislav Baumgertner, prompting broadened searches.

Read at www.theguardian.com