Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, March 4: Andrey Botikov, a Russian scientist who worked on the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine, was discovered dead in his Moscow flat on Thursday. According to Saturday claims in Russian media, he was killed by being strangled with a belt.
According to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Botikov (47), was a senior researcher at the Gamaleya National Research Institute for Environment and Mathematics. This information was provided to Russian News Agency TASS.
Following the discovery of Botikov’s body, the suspect was detained, according to a statement from the federal investigation agency.
Investigators claim that the 29-year-old defendant choked Botikov with a belt after a dispute. According to law enforcement officials, the murder was a home invasion and the outcome of a dispute.
The virologist’s death is being looked into as a murder, according to the investigating authority in Russia.
For his work on the Covid vaccination, the virologist received the Order of Merit for the Fatherland honour from Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2021. According to PTI, Botikov was one of 18 scientists that created the Sputnik V vaccine in 2020.
