High Scientist Behind Russia’s Covid Vaccine “Strangled”: Report

In accordance with investigators, a 29-year-old younger man strangled Botikov.

Moscow:

Andrey Botikov, one of many scientists who helped to create the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V, was strangled with a belt at his house right here and police have arrested a suspect in reference to the homicide, in response to 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 house 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 response to stories.

His loss of life is being investigated as a homicide, the committee, which is the investigating authority in Russia, mentioned in a Telegram assertion.

In accordance with investigators, a 29-year-old younger man strangled Botikov with a belt throughout an argument and fled. Legislation enforcement businesses 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. Through the interrogation, he pled responsible and was charged. The defendant has a earlier legal report, as he stood trial on fees of committing a severe crime. Within the close to future, the investigation plans to petition the court docket to put the defendant in custody pending trial,” the Investigative Committee mentioned. PTI NSA AKJ NSA

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