Russian scientist who developed Covid vaccine strangled to dying with belt: Report

One of the highest scientists who helped to create the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, Andrey Botikov, was discovered lifeless in his house. He was strangled to dying with a belt.

Moscow,UPDATED: Mar 4, 2023 13:26 IST

File picture of Russian scientist Andrey Botikov. (Photo: LinkedIn/Andrey Botikov)

By India Today World Desk: Russian scientist Andrey Botikov, who helped to create the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, was discovered lifeless in his house in Moscow. He was strangled to dying with a belt, Russian media stories mentioned Saturday.

The 47-year-old Botikov was discovered lifeless in his house in Moscow on Thursday. He labored as a senior researcher on the Gamaleya National Research Center for Ecology and Mathematics, Russian News Agency TASS quoted the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation as saying.

The virologist was awarded by the Russian President Vladimir Putin with the Order of Merit 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, PTI reported.

The investigating authority in Russia mentioned that the dying of the virologist is being investigated as a homicide.

According to investigators, a 29-year-old younger man strangled Botikov with a belt throughout an argument and fled. Law enforcement companies mentioned the homicide was a home crime and the results of a battle, the report mentioned.

The suspect was arrested hours after Botikov’s physique was discovered, the federal investigative company mentioned within the assertion.

“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,” the Investigative Committee mentioned.

(With PTI inputs)

Edited By:

Manisha Pandey

Published On:

Mar 4, 2023