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Boris Berezovsky death: Chemical hazard police give house all-clear Boris Berezovsky death: Chemical hazard police give house all-clear
(about 2 hours later)
The home of the late exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky has been given the all-clear after it was searched by police for chemical, biological and nuclear material.The home of the late exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky has been given the all-clear after it was searched by police for chemical, biological and nuclear material.
A cordon around his Berkshire house has now mostly been lifted.A cordon around his Berkshire house has now mostly been lifted.
Mr Berezovsky, 67, was found dead on Saturday and police are currently treating his death as unexplained.Mr Berezovsky, 67, was found dead on Saturday and police are currently treating his death as unexplained.
He emigrated to the UK in 2000 after falling out with Russia's president, and was granted asylum in 2003.He emigrated to the UK in 2000 after falling out with Russia's president, and was granted asylum in 2003.
'Nothing of concern''Nothing of concern'
Mr Berezovsky's body was reportedly found in a bath at the house in Ascot on Saturday afternoon. An ambulance was called to his house at 15:18 GMT.Mr Berezovsky's body was reportedly found in a bath at the house in Ascot on Saturday afternoon. An ambulance was called to his house at 15:18 GMT.
His body remained at the property while the search - described by police as a precaution - was carried out.His body remained at the property while the search - described by police as a precaution - was carried out.
Supt Simon Bowden, of Thames Valley Police, thanked residents for their patience and apologised for the inconvenience.Supt Simon Bowden, of Thames Valley Police, thanked residents for their patience and apologised for the inconvenience.
"However, we needed to ensure that all precautions were taken prior to entering the property."However, we needed to ensure that all precautions were taken prior to entering the property.
"I am pleased to say the CBRN [Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear] officers found nothing of concern in the property and we are now progressing the investigation as normal," he said. "I am pleased to say the CBRN [chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear] officers found nothing of concern in the property and we are now progressing the investigation as normal," he said.
Boris Berezovsky amassed a fortune in the 1990s after the privatisation of state assets following the collapse of Soviet Communism.Boris Berezovsky amassed a fortune in the 1990s after the privatisation of state assets following the collapse of Soviet Communism.
He survived numerous assassination attempts, including a bomb that decapitated his chauffeur.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.In 2003 he was granted political asylum in Britain on the grounds that his life would be in danger in Russia.
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.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.
Litvinenko's friend
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.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.
Litvinenko's friend
In an informal interview with journalist Ilya Zhegule on the eve of his death, and published on Forbes' Russian language website, Mr Berezovsky reportedly said his life no longer made sense and spoke of his desire to return to Russia.In an informal interview with journalist Ilya Zhegule on the eve of his death, and published on Forbes' Russian language website, Mr Berezovsky reportedly said his life no longer made sense and spoke of his desire to return to Russia.
"There is nothing that I wish more today than to return to Russia," he is quoted as saying."There is nothing that I wish more today than to return to Russia," he is quoted as saying.
"I had underestimated how dear Russia is to me and how little I can stand being an emigre."I had underestimated how dear Russia is to me and how little I can stand being an emigre.
"I have changed my opinion on a lot of subjects. I had a very idealistic idea on how to build a democratic Russia. And I had an idealistic idea of what democracy is in the centre of Europe."I have changed my opinion on a lot of subjects. I had a very idealistic idea on how to build a democratic Russia. And I had an idealistic idea of what democracy is in the centre of Europe.
"I underestimated the inertia of Russia and greatly overestimated the West.""I underestimated the inertia of Russia and greatly overestimated the West."
On Saturday a Kremlin spokesman said that Mr Berezovsky had recently written to Mr Putin, saying he wanted to go home.On Saturday a Kremlin spokesman said that Mr Berezovsky had recently written to Mr Putin, saying he wanted to go home.
Mr Berezovsky was a close friend of murdered Russian emigre and former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who died in 2006 after he was poisoned with the radioactive material polonium-210 while drinking tea at a London meeting.Mr Berezovsky was a close friend of murdered Russian emigre and former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko, who died in 2006 after he was poisoned with the radioactive material polonium-210 while drinking tea at a London meeting.
Without naming Mr Berezovsky, the Kremlin has accused its foreign-based opponents of organising the assassination. It was thought that Russia was, in part referring, to Mr Berezovsky. Without naming Mr Berezovsky, the Kremlin has accused its foreign-based opponents of organising the assassination. It was thought that Russia was, in part, referring to Mr Berezovsky.
He denied the allegation and accused Mr Putin of personally being behind Mr Litvinenko's death. A former Russian intelligence officer, Andrei Lugovoi, has refused to attend the Litvinenko inquest, saying he will not receive "justice" in Britain.He denied the allegation and accused Mr Putin of personally being behind Mr Litvinenko's death. A former Russian intelligence officer, Andrei Lugovoi, has refused to attend the Litvinenko inquest, saying he will not receive "justice" in Britain.
Russian media have described Mr Berezovsky's death as "the end of an era".Russian media have described Mr Berezovsky's death as "the end of an era".
On its website, the pro-Kremlin paper Komsomolskaya Pravda describes Mr Berezovsky as having been "clever, cunning, resourceful... a master of chaos".On its website, the pro-Kremlin paper Komsomolskaya Pravda describes Mr Berezovsky as having been "clever, cunning, resourceful... a master of chaos".
Meanwhile, Novaya Gazeta - which is normally critical of the Kremlin - described him as someone who "viewed Russia as a chess board", albeit one on which "only he would be allowed to move the pieces".Meanwhile, Novaya Gazeta - which is normally critical of the Kremlin - described him as someone who "viewed Russia as a chess board", albeit one on which "only he would be allowed to move the pieces".
Former British ambassador to Russia Sir Andrew Wood, who knew Mr Berezovsky, said he had been a man of vigour who had tended to "over-egg his importance", was at heart "not a bad man" and had been helpful to Britain in the past.
Sir Andrew told the BBC: "If he killed himself, that's terrible. If he was poisoned -and it's interesting that people instantly raise that question in one way or another - that is of course still worse.
"If he had a heart attack, well that was what was coming anyway so one should be grateful if it was fast."