Andrey Botikov, one of many scientists who helped to create the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, was strangled to demise with a belt at his condominium right here and police have arrested a suspect in reference to the homicide, in keeping with a Russian media report on Saturday.
Botikov, 47, who labored as a senior researcher on the Gamaleya Nationwide Analysis Middle for Ecology and Arithmetic, was discovered lifeless in his condominium on Thursday, Russian Information Company TASS quoted the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation as saying.
Russian President Vladimir Putin honoured the virologist with the Order of Benefit for the Fatherland award for his work on the COVID vaccine in 2021. Botikov was one in every of 18 scientists who developed the Sputnik V vaccine in 2020, in keeping with studies.
Additionally learn: ‘Has Russia been invaded’: High EU official rebuts Sergey Lavrov on Ukraine conflict
His demise is being investigated as a homicide, the committee, which is the investigating authority in Russia, mentioned in a Telegram assertion.
In line with investigators, a 29-year-old younger man strangled Botikov with a belt throughout an argument and fled. Regulation enforcement companies mentioned the homicide was a home crime and the results of a battle, the report mentioned.
The suspect was arrested shortly after Botikov’s physique was discovered, the federal investigative company mentioned within the assertion.
“The placement of the attacker was established in brief order. In the course of the interrogation, he pled responsible and was charged. The defendant has a earlier prison document, as he stood trial on expenses of committing a critical crime. Within the close to future, the investigation plans to petition the court docket to position the defendant in custody pending trial,” the Investigative Committee mentioned.