Ex-Russian Official Died After Drinking, Falling in DC Hotel

The conspiracy theories surrounding the mysterious and sudden death of a former Russian presidential aide have finally been debunked after investigators determined he died from an injury he suffered after days of excessive drinking. 

Mikhail Lesin, a former aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was found dead on the floor of his room in the Dupont Circle Hotel the morning of Nov. 5, 2015.

Police say Lesin, 57, entered his hotel room for the final time Nov. 4, after days of excessive drinking. While in the room, Lesin fell multiple times and suffered "blunt-force injuries of the neck, torso, upper extremities and lower extremities," a statement from police said.

His body was found the next morning. Acute ethanol intoxication was also listed as a contributing cause to his death.

The investigation into Lesin's death is now closed. 

In addition to being a former aide to Putin, Lesin helped found the English-language news service Russia Today, later renamed RT. He served as Russian press minister from 1999 to 2004 and presidential media adviser from 2004 to 2009, RT said.

He then became a senior executive at Gazprom-Media, Russia's largest media holding company.

Contact Us