Inquest: Berezovsky was found with "ligature around his neck"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, who died in a mansion near London in unexplained circumstances last weekend, was found lying on the floor of the bathroom with a "ligature around his neck", an inquest into his death heard on Thursday, March 28, according to Reuters.

Police have said there was no sign of a struggle and that the 67-year-old's death was "consistent with hanging", suggesting he might have killed himself.

Detective Inspector Mark Bissell said at the opening of the inquest that Berezovsky had been found with a ligature around his neck and a piece of similar material on the shower rail above him. He did not elaborate.

Berezovsky, who survived years of intrigue, power struggles and assassination attempts in Russia, was found dead on Saturday in Ascot, a town near Queen Elizabeth's Windsor Castle, west of London.

Asked whether any third-party involvement was possible, Bissell replied: "That cannot be completely eliminated." The inquest was adjourned to a date yet to be fixed.

Berezovsky was the king-maker behind Vladimir Putin's ascent to power in Russia but later became his number-one enemy and fled to Britain in 2000.

His associates have hinted he was depressed after losing a $6 billion court case against another tycoon, Roman Abramovich, last year, when a judge humiliated him publicly by saying he was an unimpressive and unreliable witness.

Other people close to him have said they were not convinced by the official account.