Berezovsky had ligature around his neck: Inquiry

WINDSOR - Agence France-Presse

Police officers stand outside the court before the start of the inquest. REUTERS photo

Russian oligarch and Kremlin critic Boris Berezovsky was found lying on his bathroom floor with a piece of material around his neck and the same material on a shower rail, an inquest into his death heard today.

The 67-year-old was found in his mansion in Ascot, west of London, on March 23.

A post-mortem examination found his death was consistent with hanging, but toxicology tests are being carried out and it will be several weeks before the results are known.

At the opening of the inquest, Detective Inspector Mark Bissell of Thames Valley Police said Berezovsky was found with a “ligature around his neck and a piece of similar material on the shower rail above him”.

Although the post-mortem found no evidence of a violent struggle, Bissell said the involvement of a third party “cannot be completely eliminated as tests remain outstanding”.

The inquest at Windsor Coroner’s Court was opened and adjourned.

 In their first public response to the death, Berezovsky’s daughter Anastasia Berezovskaya said on March 27 he was not a “typical parent” but described him as an “extraordinary” man.