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| Ex-Putin aide Mikhail Lesin died of 'blow to the head' | Ex-Putin aide Mikhail Lesin died of 'blow to the head' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A former aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was found dead in the US last year, died of a blow to the head, officials say. | A former aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was found dead in the US last year, died of a blow to the head, officials say. |
| Mikhail Lesin also had blunt force injuries to the neck, torso, arms and legs, Washington DC's chief medical examiner said. | Mikhail Lesin also had blunt force injuries to the neck, torso, arms and legs, Washington DC's chief medical examiner said. |
| The 57-year-old was found at the city's Dupont Circle hotel in November. | The 57-year-old was found at the city's Dupont Circle hotel in November. |
| Lesin was former Russian press minister and a one-time head of the powerful Gazprom-Media Holding group. | Lesin was former Russian press minister and a one-time head of the powerful Gazprom-Media Holding group. |
| After his death, his family members were quoted by Russian media as saying that he had a heart attack. | After his death, his family members were quoted by Russian media as saying that he had a heart attack. |
| Lesin was for a long time considered one of the most influential figures on the Russian media scene and in the corridors of power. | Lesin was for a long time considered one of the most influential figures on the Russian media scene and in the corridors of power. |
| He worked as an aide to the presidency between 2004 and 2009, when he helped advise on the creation of the news channel Russia Today (now known as RT). | He worked as an aide to the presidency between 2004 and 2009, when he helped advise on the creation of the news channel Russia Today (now known as RT). |
| He resigned from Gazprom-Media in 2014. After his death, President Putin spoke of Lesin's "enormous contribution" to Russian media. | He resigned from Gazprom-Media in 2014. After his death, President Putin spoke of Lesin's "enormous contribution" to Russian media. |
| Media 'censor' | Media 'censor' |
| The chief medical examiner provided no further details from the post-mortem examination. | The chief medical examiner provided no further details from the post-mortem examination. |
| Meanwhile, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said the case remained under investigation, the Washington Post reported. | Meanwhile, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said the case remained under investigation, the Washington Post reported. |
| He declined to say whether the post-mortem examination results meant a crime may have been committed. | He declined to say whether the post-mortem examination results meant a crime may have been committed. |
| Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was now expecting "clarification from Washington and relevant official data on the progress of the investigation". | Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was now expecting "clarification from Washington and relevant official data on the progress of the investigation". |
| In 2014, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker called for an investigation into Lesin, saying he had moved his family to the US and bought property worth $28m (£19.6m) in Los Angeles for his family. | In 2014, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker called for an investigation into Lesin, saying he had moved his family to the US and bought property worth $28m (£19.6m) in Los Angeles for his family. |
| His son Anton Lessine has reportedly produced several high-profile Hollywood films featuring stars like Brad Pitt, Woody Allen and Arnold Schwarzenegger. | |
| Sen Wicker said Lesin's fortune raised "serious questions", asking how a former civil servant would have been able to buy and maintain expensive property. He also expressed concern that the purchase may have involved people and groups on a US sanctions list. | Sen Wicker said Lesin's fortune raised "serious questions", asking how a former civil servant would have been able to buy and maintain expensive property. He also expressed concern that the purchase may have involved people and groups on a US sanctions list. |
| The senator also said Lesin "led the Kremlin's effort to censor Russia's independent television outlets". | The senator also said Lesin "led the Kremlin's effort to censor Russia's independent television outlets". |