In 2015, Putin’s media czar Mikhail Lesin was found dead in a DC hotel room. The US government ruled his death an “accident” due to a series of drunken falls.
But a secret report to the FBI found Lesin was murdered — contradicting the official story. buzzfeed.com/jasonleopold/c…
But a secret report to the FBI found Lesin was murdered — contradicting the official story. buzzfeed.com/jasonleopold/c…
BuzzFeed News spoke with four sources who have read parts or all of the report. Its author, Christopher Steele, is the ex-British intelligence agent behind the famous Trump dossier.
After falling out with a powerful oligarch close to Putin, Russian state security agents were contracted to only beat up Lesin, but they went too far and killed him, the report claims.
The report isn’t the only piece of intel casting doubt on the official story:
Three other individuals told the FBI a similar story independently — that Lesin was bludgeoned to death by thugs working for the oligarch.
Three other individuals told the FBI a similar story independently — that Lesin was bludgeoned to death by thugs working for the oligarch.
The report adds to a mounting body of evidence that casts doubt on the official finding on Lesin’s death.
“There isn’t a single person inside the bureau who believes this guy got drunk, fell down, and died,” an FBI agent told BuzzFeed News in 2017. buzzfeed.com/jasonleopold/p…
“There isn’t a single person inside the bureau who believes this guy got drunk, fell down, and died,” an FBI agent told BuzzFeed News in 2017. buzzfeed.com/jasonleopold/p…
The new revelations come as concerns about Russia’s meddling in the West have intensified: The British and US governments have blamed the Kremlin for poisoning an ex-Russian spy and his daughter in the UK.
In the wake of the attack, the British government is now reviewing 14 suspicious deaths in the UK linked to Russia that BuzzFeed News exposed in an investigation last year. buzzfeed.com/heidiblake/fro…
In a report extensively referring to BuzzFeed News’ investigation, Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote “It is not inconceivable that the Kremlin could use its security services in the United States as it has elsewhere” buzzfeed.com/heidiblake/sen…
“It’s really hard to imagine that it was an innocent death,” said former CIA intelligence officer John Sipher. “Everybody I know who’s a professional and dealt with Russia — the immediate assumption is that he was murdered.” buzzfeed.com/jasonleopold/c…
The FBI declined to answer any questions for this story. The DC Metropolitan Police pointed to an earlier statement that said, “We will certainly reinvestigate should additional evidence be brought to light.” buzzfeed.com/jasonleopold/c…
