http://www.businessinsider.com/police-russian-oligarch-boris-berezovsky-died-from-hanging-2013-3
http://rt.com/news/berezovsky-death-police-investigation-765/
( Boris alleged died of hanging - found on floor of bathroom...... So , he hung himself , cut himself down , then laid out on the floor ? )
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-23/russian-billionaire-exile-boris-berezovsky-commits-suicide
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/23/2013 13:07 -0400
Art&Living
http://rt.com/news/berezovsky-death-police-investigation-765/
( Boris alleged died of hanging - found on floor of bathroom...... So , he hung himself , cut himself down , then laid out on the floor ? )
Suicide or heart attack? Theories surround Berezovsky death as police rule out ‘third party’
Published time: March 25, 2013 04:52
Edited time: March 25, 2013 12:37
Edited time: March 25, 2013 12:37
Boris Berezovsky (AFP Photo)
British police believe no third party was involved in the death of former Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, while speculation around the cause of death grows to include murder, heart attack and suicide.
Berezovsky’s bodyguard was apparently the only person in the house at the time of the oligarch’s death. It has turned out that he hadn’t seen his employer since about 10:30pm Friday evening, which prompted him to force open the locked door of the bathroom on Saturday, where he discovered Berezovsky’s body on the floor – not in a bathtub, as believed earlier.
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) specialists have given police officers the green light to investigate indoors after finding no harmful chemicals or substances at the property.
"On leaving the property the personal electronic dosimeter (PED) of the paramedic was triggered. As a result of this, specialist CBRN officers were asked to confirm that the scene was safe and clear to work in, which they subsequently did," a police statement clarified.
A police forensic vehicle passes through the road block near to the house of of Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky in Sunningdale, Berkshire, southwest of London, on March 24, 2013.(AFP Photo / Leon Neal)
Growing speculation around cause of death
While British police are investigating the ‘unexplained death’ of Berezovsky, various media reports speculate about the cause of death, suggesting heart attack, suicide and that the deceased may have been strangled.
A new third theory introduces additional evidence to the case – a scarf found near the body.
The scarf was discovered by Berezovsky's former wife, Galina Besharova, who owns the property, The Guardian reported.
She arrived while a paramedic was still on the scene inside the house. Galina described what she saw to Nikolay Glushkov, one of Berezovsky's oldest friends, saying that she believed Berezovsky was murdered.
"Boris was strangled. Either he did it himself or with the help of someone. [But] I don't believe it was suicide. This was not just a normal death," Glushkov told The Guardian.
Berezovsky was reportedly paranoid about security because of several previous attempts on his life.
He surrounded himself with highest levels of security available and his bodyguards included ex-spies from the Israeli secret service Mossad, The Sun reported. When the tycoon traveled outside the UK, his guards were often armed. For years he avoided public airlines and only used a private jet.
Despite speculation, Thames Valley Police Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Brown noted that “it would be wrong to speculate on the cause of death until the postmortem has been carried out. We do not have any evidence at this stage to suggest third-party involvement.”
Autopsy results will be available as soon as Tuesday, FederalPress reported.
A picture shows part of the house of Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky in Sunningdale, Berkshire, southwest of London, on March 24, 2013.(AFP Photo / Leon Neal)
Reports of heart attack
RIA Novosti cited a source close to Berezovsky, claiming he had died of a heart attack, having recently undergone treatment for various health problems in Israel.
Berezovsky’s last known interview to Forbes magazine revealed just how distraught the former billionaire was. He was avoiding talking about business and politics, instead feeling very nostalgic about returning home to Russia. He claimed he had “lost meaning in life,” and that he was very nostalgic about Russia, to which he wanted to return, adding he had “underestimated how important it was to him.” He spoke about being uncomfortable as an immigrant in the UK.
Commenting on the news from London, President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov that recently Berezovsky had wrote a letter to Putin, asking the president for forgiveness for his “mistakes” and permission to return “to [his] motherland.”
In reference to that letter, political analyst Sergey Strokan of Russia's Kommersant newspaper says that Berezovsky "probably tried to make a deal with Putin, thinking he could do it in the way it was done in the time of Yeltsin, through such behind-the-scenes deals.”
Suicide theory
There had also been claims that the tycoon committed suicide, in light of his heavy debts, major unsuccessful lawsuits and a subsequent battle with depression, according to lawyer Aleksandr Dobrovinsky.
Berezovsky’s death comes only a few months after his high-profile court battle with former oligarch and business-partner-turned-foe, Roman Abramovich – owner of the Chelsea Football Club. In what many believe to be a desperate bid to escape total bankruptcy, Berezovsky accused Abramovich of blackmail and breaches of trust and contract in a dispute over the ownership of the profitable oil company Sibneft. He ended up losing the US$5.6-billion court battle, on top of which he was ordered to pay Abramovich’s $56 million in legal costs.
This is widely believed to be the final straw on the way to depression. His son-in-law reportedly backed the claim, further noting that he failed to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances, and often chose to stay at home rather than go out.
Considering the possibility that Berezovsky had committed suicide, Journalist Ben Aris, who has been interviewing him on and off for 15 years, believes that on top of all his other troubles, "he was finding it very difficult to adapt business-wise to working out of Russia. British banks, finding out that it was his money they were holding, would often close [his accounts] and cancel him”, argues Aris.
“The whole model of being connected and pulling strings inside the Kremlin in order to make money just doesn't work in London...so his business was sliding backward slowly...he just gave up his office since he had this court order slapped, [which] froze $200 million of his money. So the suicide speculation makes sense as, clearly, it wasn't going well."
Berezovsky made headlines earlier this week, after news broke that the tycoon was auctioning off an Andy Warhol portrait of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. The oligarch was planning to sell his limited edition ‘Red Lenin’ print in hopes of paying off creditors and legal bills, The Times reported. The 1987 portrait has been estimated by Christie's to be worth between $45,000 and $75,000, and is reportedly in excellent condition.
Dobrovinsky says many of Berezovsky’s friends are very extremely skeptical about the suicide theory.
Journalist Mikhail Leontyev also expressed doubt. "If a man obsessed with himself was going to commit suicide – he would make it known to the whole world."
Moscow may consider holding Boris Berezovsky’s funeral in Russia, should the relevant request be received, Peskov told RIA Novosti.
Berezovsky wanted to be buried near a Moscow Region church where he was baptized, former Secretary of Russia's Security Council Ivan Rybkin told Russian media.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-03-23/russian-billionaire-exile-boris-berezovsky-commits-suicide
Russian Billionaire In Exile Boris Berezovsky Commits Suicide - The First Cyprus Casualty?
Just your ordinary run of the mill Russian billionaire oligarch in exile who had so much money he was terminally depressed... or just the opposite, and the first tragic casualty of the Cyprus capital controls which are about to eviscerate a whole lot of Russian wealth (and ultraluxury Manhattan real estate prices)?
Exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky has died at the age 67, according to a Facebook post from his son-in-law Egor Schuppe. Details regarding the nature of his death are yet to be released.His death has not been officially confirmed, and details have not been disclosed.According to Schuppe, Berezovsky was recently depressed. He failed to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances, and often chose to stay at home rather than go out.Damian Kudriavtsev, the former CEO of Kommersant Publishing House also commented on the businessman’s death saying he passed away at 11:00 GMT in London.On his twitter account, Kudriavtsev said there were no signs of a violent death.Aleksandr Dobrovinksy, a famous lawyer and head of Moscow-based The Alexander Dobrovinsky & Partners law firm has said that Berezovsky committed suicide.“Just got a call from London. Boris [Abramovich] Berezovsky committed suicide. He was a difficult man. A move of disparity? Impossible to live poor? A strike of blows? I am afraid no one will get to know now,” the lawyer said on his social network page.
His name was Boris Berezovsky.
http://rt.com/news/berezovsky-sell-warholl-lenin-429/
Cash-strapped Russian oligarch Berezovsky to auction off Warhol portrait
Published time: March 18, 2013 13:24
Edited time: March 18, 2013 14:01
Edited time: March 18, 2013 14:01
Image from www.wikipaintings.org
Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky is trying to recoup losses incurred during his legal defeat against former partner Roman Abramovich: The exiled Russian oligarch is auctioning off an Andy Warhol portrait of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin.
The 67-year-old tycoon is selling his limited-edition ‘Red Lenin’ print in hopes of paying off creditors and legal bills, the Times reported. The 1987 portrait by the Pop Art pioneer has been estimated by Christie's to be worth between $45,000 and $75,000, and is reportedly in excellent condition. In 2012, works by Warhol topped auction sales, fetching a total of $380.3 million, beating long-time world record-holder Picasso.
In August, Berezovsky lost a $5.6-billion court battle against Abramovich in a highly publicized dispute over the ownership of the profitable oil company Sibneft. The case left his reputation in tatters, with the judge presiding over the case describing Berezovsky as an “unimpressive” and “inherently unreliable witness,” who was “deliberately dishonest” and viewed “truth as a transitory, flexible concept.”
In August, Berezovsky lost a $5.6-billion court battle against Abramovich in a highly publicized dispute over the ownership of the profitable oil company Sibneft. The case left his reputation in tatters, with the judge presiding over the case describing Berezovsky as an “unimpressive” and “inherently unreliable witness,” who was “deliberately dishonest” and viewed “truth as a transitory, flexible concept.”
He was further ordered to pay Abramovich’s $56 million in legal costs.
Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky (AFP Photo/Andrew Cowie)
Earlier this year, Berezovsky’s legal and financial troubles continued to loom large after his ex-lover claimed her partner of 20 years owed her $8 million in compensation over the sale of their $40 million residence in Surrey.
Elena Gorbunova also secured an asset-freeze on two luxury properties Berezovsky was allegedly trying to sell in France which, she maintained, were promised to her. The freeze, which was initially reported to be for $200 million but later reduced by the judge, will remain in place until the matter is settled in court.
A Russian court sentenced Berezovsky in absentia for embezzling $2 billion from two major state companies, as well as for fraud and money-laundering.
Moscow has repeatedly requested his extradition; British authorities have not complied.
Elena Gorbunova also secured an asset-freeze on two luxury properties Berezovsky was allegedly trying to sell in France which, she maintained, were promised to her. The freeze, which was initially reported to be for $200 million but later reduced by the judge, will remain in place until the matter is settled in court.
A Russian court sentenced Berezovsky in absentia for embezzling $2 billion from two major state companies, as well as for fraud and money-laundering.
Moscow has repeatedly requested his extradition; British authorities have not complied.
Art&Living
Rare Warhol Lenin Print Sells at Auction for over $200,000
Andy Warhol’s limited edition print of Vladimir Lenin
© Photo Christie's
01:42 21/03/2013
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Multimedia
MOSCOW, March 21 (RIA Novosti) - The Christie’s auction house said on Wednesday it had sold Andy Warhol’s limited edition print of Vladimir Lenin, the father of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, for over $202,000.
According to The Times, the print was previously owned by self-exiled Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky. The paper said, citing “sources familiar with the oligarch’s affairs,” that the artwork was auctioned “to pay off creditors and legal bills.”
The portrait, dated 1987 and headlined “Red Lenin,” was sold well above its pre-sale estimate of $45,000 - $75,500. It was described by Christie’s as a "screen print in colors”, which is "in excellent condition."
In August 2012, Berezovsky lost a legal battleagainst Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.The 65-year-old tycoon sought about $4.7 billion in damages, accusing his former business partner of intimidating him into selling shares in Russian oil giant Sibneft below their true value.
In July 2011 Berezovsky’s ex-wife, 53-year-old Galina Besharova, won a divorce settlement which the British media described as the English legal system's largest ever divorce payout, rumored to be worth up to 220 million British pounds (over $330 million).
In January, the judge presiding over another legal case involving Berezovsky issued a ruling describing the businessman as “a man under financial pressure.”
A great day for the people. One thief less.
ReplyDeleteA dark day for the looters of Russia
-Nalliah Thayabharan
Nalliah - I'm not a fan of Boris or a critic , simply noting his departure from the scene. His death could represent a few things - a desire to escape the evisceration of his fortune ( stolen from the russian people ) , he might have been murdered by one of his legion of enemies ( political enemies , perhaps he had his money and monies of russian gangsters deposited in Cyrpus and ironically found himself looted ) , maybe death by natural causes .....
ReplyDeleteWhen someone like Boris checks out ( more likely murdered or by suicide than natural causes ) right during the confusion of a seven day mandatory bank closure and as bank levies and deposit theft openly debated , I would be cautious while cheering the news. when the rich feed on themselves , there will be no concern for the poor and middle class folks out here !