A RETIRED senior Russian official close to both Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin’s secret services has died.
Former director of the Federal Migration Service, Konstantin Romodanovsky, 67, fell down the stairs of his country house and broke his neck.
East2WestCareer FSB secret services officer Konstantin Romodanovsky[/caption]
Romodanovsky had worked under Putin as an FSB intelligence officer and acted as the dictator’s “eyes and ears” in several government departments.
Notably, he served in the Interior Ministry while always remaining a seconded secret services officer, it has been reported.
The migration service – in charge of controlling immigration – is part of the Interior Ministry.
Romodanovsky held the rank Colonel-General in the ministry, but had been the first head of the FSB’s security directorate where his nickname was “Boot” and he held a similar high rank.
Telegram channel VChK-OGPU alleged that the former intelligence officer had “incriminating documents on many current politicians, businessmen and employees of the [secret service] agencies.”
“Romodanovsky died in his country house under very strange circumstances,” said the channel.
VChK-OGPU said that while retired, Romodanovsky was active, serving on the boards of companies controlled by the powerful FSB secret service.
A source told the outlet: “Perhaps his death is related to his latest intoxication and he simply lost his balance.
“However, such ‘accidents’ have happened to several well-known businessmen and high-ranking FSB employees who were closely connected with the so-called St. Petersburg-Petrozavodsk group.
“In any case, Konstantin Romodanovsky will not tell anything more.”
Leading pro-Putin Russian MP Alexander Khinshtein reported his tragic death and said: “I can’t believe it.
“I spoke with him just last week. He was full of energy and plans.”
There has been no official statement on the cause of his demise but it is the latest of dozens of mysterious deaths during Putin’s war against Ukraine.
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