MOSCOW (AP) — The body of former Russian consul-general to Iran, Konstantin Alekseev, was found in his home in Moscow. His death comes as the latest in a string of mysterious deaths of prominent individuals in Russia. The cause of Alekseev’s death is under investigation.
Alekseev, who was 63 years old, had served as a senior diplomat in Iran for several years and had also held a senior position inside the Russian Foreign Ministry. He had been based in Rasht for four years, a key hub for exports and imports between Iran and Russia.
The Russian government has seen a series of mysterious deaths of prominent figures during Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine. Alekseev’s death follows the sudden passing of Vladimir Lebedev, a Russian senator with close ties to the Kremlin, and Vladimir Nekrasov, chairman of the energy giant Lukoil’s board of directors.
In addition to Alekseev and the aforementioned individuals, several Russian generals have also died since the beginning of the war, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
As authorities continue to investigate Alekseev’s death, it remains unclear if the diplomat was still involved with Iran, as he had returned from Rasht in 2019. More details about his sudden passing are expected to emerge as the investigation unfolds.