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Georgia tycoon death 'suspicious' Georgia tycoon death 'suspicious'
(about 1 hour later)
British police have said they are treating as "suspicious" the death of Georgian tycoon and opposition politician Badri Patarkatsishvili.British police have said they are treating as "suspicious" the death of Georgian tycoon and opposition politician Badri Patarkatsishvili.
Mr Patarkatsishvili, 52, died in Leatherhead, near London, on Tuesday. His aides said he had a heart attack. The 52-year-old died in Surrey, England on Tuesday. Aides said he had a heart attack, but his death has been referred to the Major Crimes Investigation Unit.
Mr Patarkatsishvili financed his own campaign in January's presidential poll won by incumbent Mikhail Saakashvili. Mr Patarkatsishvili ran against President Mikhail Saakashvili in elections in January.
He was later charged with plotting a coup in connection with anti-government protests last year. He has been charged with plotting a coup following protests last year.
He lived in self-imposed exile in Britain and Israel. Since then, Mr Patarkatsishvili has lived in self-imposed exile in Britain and Israel.
The multi-millionaire businessman was one of Georgia's richest and most controversial men, the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says.The multi-millionaire businessman was one of Georgia's richest and most controversial men, the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says.
He financed his own presidential campaign in January.
The Georgian government came to regard him as its most powerful opponent, our correspondent says.The Georgian government came to regard him as its most powerful opponent, our correspondent says.
Post mortem examinationPost mortem examination
"Police were called to an address in Leatherhead in Surrey late yesterday evening (around 2300 GMT) following the collapse and death of a Georgian businessman, Badri Patarkatsishvili who is believed to have been 52," British police said in a statement."Police were called to an address in Leatherhead in Surrey late yesterday evening (around 2300 GMT) following the collapse and death of a Georgian businessman, Badri Patarkatsishvili who is believed to have been 52," British police said in a statement.
"As with all unexpected deaths it is being treated as suspicious. A post mortem will be held later today [Wednesday] to establish the cause of death," it said. "As with all unexpected deaths it is being treated as suspicious. A post-mortem will be held later today [Wednesday] to establish the cause of death," it said.
Mr Patarkatsishvili's former business associate, exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, also said he died at about 2300 GMT on Tuesday. The death of Badri Patarkatsishvili is a terrible tragedy - I have lost my closest friend Boris Berezovsky
Mr Berezovsky said he had seen him that day. He was not ill but complained about his heart, he said. The results of the post-mortem examination, which will be carried out in Guildford, are not expected to be conclusive, and further toxicology tests will be carried out.
Surrey Police later confirmed they had referred the death to their Major Crimes Investigations Unit.
Mr Patarkatsishvili's former business associate, exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, said he had seen him that day.
He was not ill but had complained about his heart, he said.
"The death of Badri Patarkatsishvili is a terrible tragedy," he said in a statement. "I have lost my closest friend."
"This is a huge loss for all of his family and friends."
Mr Berezovsky said he would make no further comment on the circumstances of Mr Patarkatsishvili's death until the authorities had completed their investigation.
'Assassination plot''Assassination plot'
A supporter of the so-called Rose Revolution which brought Mr Saakashvili to power in 2004, Mr Patarkatsishvili later turned against the government and began financing opposition parties.A supporter of the so-called Rose Revolution which brought Mr Saakashvili to power in 2004, Mr Patarkatsishvili later turned against the government and began financing opposition parties.
Mr Patarkatsishvili financed several Georgian opposition groups
The authorities accused him of offering a $100m (£50m) bribe to a senior police official to help him overthrow the government and seize the Georgian interior minister.The authorities accused him of offering a $100m (£50m) bribe to a senior police official to help him overthrow the government and seize the Georgian interior minister.
He denied the charge, saying that he himself was being targeted in an assassination plot.He denied the charge, saying that he himself was being targeted in an assassination plot.
But the opposition tried to distance itself from his election campaign, and he came third with just 7% of the vote behind their official candidate Levan Gachechiladze. But the main opposition tried to distance itself from his election campaign, and he came third with just 7% of the vote behind their official candidate Levan Gachechiladze.
Mr Patarkatsishvili co-owned Georgia's popular Imedi TV station with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.Mr Patarkatsishvili co-owned Georgia's popular Imedi TV station with Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.
Mr Saakashvili pulled the plug on Imedi - the main outlet for opposition views - amid a brief period of emergency rule last November that saw troops tear-gas protesters in Tbilisi.Mr Saakashvili pulled the plug on Imedi - the main outlet for opposition views - amid a brief period of emergency rule last November that saw troops tear-gas protesters in Tbilisi.
The tycoon made his fortune in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.The tycoon made his fortune in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.