Boris Berezovsky: Russian Oligarch Found Dead in Home

Impact

Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky was found dead in his home in Surrey at the age of 67. The cause of his death is unknown but some believe he killed himself over his mounting financial hardship. Local authorities, however, are treating his death as unexplained.

Berezovsky recently lost a very high-profile case involving a blackmail claim he made against another Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich. Berezovsky was demanding £3 billion in damages, making it the largest private court case in the history of Britain. When the case was dismissed Berezovsky was ordered to pay Abramovich’s court costs whose total was £35 million. The judge in the case declared Berezvosky as dishonest and unimpressive. After the case the oil tycoons reputation suffered severely. 

The oligarch was under other financial strains from his former mistress and attorney’s whom he owed £5 million and £100 million respectively. Berezovsky had his assets frozen pending the court case with his mistress. She was seeking damages following the sale of property they owned together in France. 

The political exile of Russia was also an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin. He was put on Russia’s most wanted list in 2001 and sentenced in absentia for embezzlement from two state companies. He’s been the target of several assassination attempts, including one in 1994 that killed his driver.