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Russian Whistle-Blower Likely Died of Natural Causes, Coroner Rules Alexander Perepilichny, Russian Whistle-Blower, Likely Died of Natural Causes, Coroner Rules
(about 7 hours later)
MOSCOW — A Russian organized crime whistle-blower who died jogging near his home in a London suburb six years ago, raising suspicions of an assassination, “more likely than not” died of natural causes, a British coroner ruled on Wednesday.MOSCOW — A Russian organized crime whistle-blower who died jogging near his home in a London suburb six years ago, raising suspicions of an assassination, “more likely than not” died of natural causes, a British coroner ruled on Wednesday.
The whistle-blower, Alexander Perepilichny, 44, had been in apparent good health before collapsing during his run in Weybridge, southwest of London. Suspicions arose because he had been a witness in a high-profile and politically delicate case that implicated senior Russian officials. In 2015, three years after his death, a botanist reported having found a rare plant poison in Mr. Perepilichny’s preserved stomach contents.The whistle-blower, Alexander Perepilichny, 44, had been in apparent good health before collapsing during his run in Weybridge, southwest of London. Suspicions arose because he had been a witness in a high-profile and politically delicate case that implicated senior Russian officials. In 2015, three years after his death, a botanist reported having found a rare plant poison in Mr. Perepilichny’s preserved stomach contents.
Rare poisons were the weapon of choice in the assassination and attempted assassination of two other Russians living in Britain, both former security service agents, and the British government directly implicated Moscow in those deaths.Rare poisons were the weapon of choice in the assassination and attempted assassination of two other Russians living in Britain, both former security service agents, and the British government directly implicated Moscow in those deaths.
Mr. Perepilichny, a banker, had become a witness in a financial fraud case that led to the enactment of a United States sanction law targeting Russia, the Sergei L. Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act. Mr. Perepilichny’s role had been to hand over to Swiss authorities wire-transfer records related to the fraud.Mr. Perepilichny, a banker, had become a witness in a financial fraud case that led to the enactment of a United States sanction law targeting Russia, the Sergei L. Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act. Mr. Perepilichny’s role had been to hand over to Swiss authorities wire-transfer records related to the fraud.
At the time of his death in November 2012, the Magnitsky bill was gaining traction in Congress; it passed a month after he died. The Russian government had lobbied against the law. After it passed, Russia prohibited Americans from adopting Russian orphans as retribution.At the time of his death in November 2012, the Magnitsky bill was gaining traction in Congress; it passed a month after he died. The Russian government had lobbied against the law. After it passed, Russia prohibited Americans from adopting Russian orphans as retribution.
In total, five people who either handed over information or were potential witnesses to the fraud have died under murky circumstances, including Mr. Magnitsky, a tax lawyer who died in a Moscow jail after essential medical care had been denied to him.In total, five people who either handed over information or were potential witnesses to the fraud have died under murky circumstances, including Mr. Magnitsky, a tax lawyer who died in a Moscow jail after essential medical care had been denied to him.
The British coroner’s investigation ruled that classified information provided by British intelligence agencies, along with what was known publicly, had not proved Mr. Perepilichny was murdered.The British coroner’s investigation ruled that classified information provided by British intelligence agencies, along with what was known publicly, had not proved Mr. Perepilichny was murdered.
“I am satisfied on the evidence I have heard I can properly and safely conclude that it was more likely than not that he died of natural causes, ” the coroner, Nicholas Hilliard, said.“I am satisfied on the evidence I have heard I can properly and safely conclude that it was more likely than not that he died of natural causes, ” the coroner, Nicholas Hilliard, said.
He said that Mr. Perepilichny had likely died of “sudden arrhythmic death syndrome” and that there had been “no direct evidence that he was unlawfully killed.”He said that Mr. Perepilichny had likely died of “sudden arrhythmic death syndrome” and that there had been “no direct evidence that he was unlawfully killed.”
The coroner heard testimony about the discovery of traces of the rare poison from the gelsemium plant, which has been used in assassinations in China. That seemed to point to murder.The coroner heard testimony about the discovery of traces of the rare poison from the gelsemium plant, which has been used in assassinations in China. That seemed to point to murder.
But the police had discarded most of the stomach contents soon after Mr. Perepilichny’s death and not enough remained to retest for the poison, William F. Browder, the financier who was the target of the financial fraud, said in a telephone interview.But the police had discarded most of the stomach contents soon after Mr. Perepilichny’s death and not enough remained to retest for the poison, William F. Browder, the financier who was the target of the financial fraud, said in a telephone interview.
Mr. Browder said he had been unconvinced by the coroner’s ruling.Mr. Browder said he had been unconvinced by the coroner’s ruling.
“The coroner had only 20 percent of the information he should have had,” Mr. Browder said. “As a result, the coroner made the default decision. Since he couldn’t prove he was poisoned, the only other option was he died of natural causes.”“The coroner had only 20 percent of the information he should have had,” Mr. Browder said. “As a result, the coroner made the default decision. Since he couldn’t prove he was poisoned, the only other option was he died of natural causes.”
Attention focused again on Mr. Perepilichny’s death after a Russian double agent and his daughter were poisoned with a rare nerve agent called novichok earlier this year. In 2006, a defector from the Federal Security Service in Russia died from poisoning with a radioactive isotope, polonium 210.Attention focused again on Mr. Perepilichny’s death after a Russian double agent and his daughter were poisoned with a rare nerve agent called novichok earlier this year. In 2006, a defector from the Federal Security Service in Russia died from poisoning with a radioactive isotope, polonium 210.