Prominent Russian actor and vocal critic of Vladimir Putin found dead in suspicious circumstances

Prominent Russian actor

and vocal critic of Vladimir 

Putin found dead in 

suspicious circumstances

• By Chris Richards
• Gogolcenter.com
  Found dead: Actor and Kremlin critic Alexei Devotchenko

• The body of stage and TV star Alexei Devotchenko, 49, was found in his apartment in Moscow - and police suspect foul play

• A prominent Russian actor and vocal critic of the Kremlin has been found dead in suspicious circumstances at his home in Moscow.

  The body of Alexei Devotchenko, 49, was discovered in his apartment in the north of the city - and police suspect foul play.

  A police source said: "There is reason to suppose that the artist's death is of a criminal character."

  Mr Devotchenko was known for his roles in popular TV drama series including Bandit Petersburg and The Street of Broken Lamps.

  He also performed on stage at the Moscow Art Theatre.

  Some media reports said the actor was found by a friend in a pool of blood outside his home.

  However, other reports say his body was found inside the apartment.

  A source in the State Investigative Committee last night told Interfax there were no signs of violence on Mr Devotchenko's body, adding he may have died by striking his head while drunk.

  Gogol Center

  'Foul play': Police in Russia have said Alexei Devotchenko died in suspicious circumstances

   

  And pro-Kremlin website LifeNews said empty whisky bottles and empty packets of a drug called Phenazepam were found near his corpse.

  Police are investigating but there has not yet been confirmation of whether Mr Devotchenko was murdered, or the potential motives of a killer.

  Mr Devotchenko has been an outspoken critic of Russia's president Vladimir Putin.

  In 2011, he said he was giving up two state acting prizes "received from Putin's hands", saying he was "ashamed".

  "I've had enough of all this tsar-state stuff," he blogged.

  "With its lies, its cover-ups, its legalised theft, its bribe-taking and its other triumphs."

  He also took part in several anti-Kremlin street demonstrations and was a member of the opposition group United Civil Front.
• http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/alexei-devotchenko-dead-prominent-russian-4578036