WASHINGTON—A longtime adviser to Russian President Vladmir Putin has been found dead at a Washington, D.C. Hotel.
Mikhail Lesin–who, in addition to being a Putin confidant, was the inspiration for Russia Today (RT), the state-run Kremlin news service–was found deceased in his hotel room at the Dupont Circle Hotel on Thursday, according to reports.
Russian state media is reporting that the 57-year-old died of a heart attack. D.C. police said they have assigned detectives onto the case who specialize in natural cause deaths, according to the Washington Post.
Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti quoted a family member of Lesin’s who said that he had indeed been suffering from illness and died “from a heart stroke.” The name of the family member was not revealed
