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Who was Andrey Botikov? Russian top scientist behind Sputnik V Covid vaccine found dead

Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin honoured the virologist Andrey Botikov with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland award for his work on the COVID vaccine in 2021.

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In a shocking incident, Andrey Botikov, Russian virologist involved in the development of the country's COVID vaccine Sputnik V, was strangled to death with a belt.

Who was Andrey Botikov? Russian top scientist behind Sputnik V Covid vaccine found dead

According to local media reports, 47-year-old Botikov, who worked as a senior researcher at the Gamaleya National Research Center for Ecology and Mathematics since 2014, was found dead in his apartment on Thursday.

Botikov was one of the 18 scientists who contributed to the development of the Sputnik V vaccine at the Gamaleya National Research Center.

Official sources have confirmed that he was strangled.

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His death is being investigated as a murder, the committee, which is the investigating authority in Russia, said in a Telegram statement.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested a a 29-year-old young suspect in connection with Andrey Botikov's murder, according to a Russian media report. According to investigators, the suspect strangled Botikov with a belt during an argument and fled. Law enforcement agencies told local media that the murder was a domestic crime and the result of a conflict, the report said.

According to the Investigative Committee, "The location of the attacker was established in short order. During the interrogation, he pled guilty and was charged. The defendant has a previous criminal record, as he stood trial on charges of committing a serious crime. In the near future, the investigation plans to petition the court to place the defendant in custody pending trial.''

Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin honoured the virologist with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland award for his work on the COVID vaccine in 2021.

It may be recalled that Sputnik V vaccine was the first international COVID vaccine that was approved by India to be administered to its citizens.

Mysterious deaths of high ranking Russians

There have been several mysterious deaths of high-ranking Russians in recent years, which have raised concerns about political assassinations and the safety of public figures in Russia.

Major General Vladimir Makarov, a senior military officer in Russia, who, according to state investigators, died by suicide after being discharged from his position.

Anatoly Gerashchenko, the ex-leader of the Moscow Aviation Institute, passed away last year after reportedly falling down "several flights of stairs".

In November last year, Col. Vadim Boiko, deputy head of the Makarov Pacific Higher Naval School in Vladivostok, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds in what has been described as a suicide.

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