Russian consular official in Greece found dead at home

The head of the consular section of the Russian embassy in Greece has been found dead in his apartment in the capital Athens.

Police investigate at the apartment of Andrei Malanin in Athens, Greece yesterday. Photo: AP

Initial indications are that Andrey Malanin, 55, died of natural causes, the BBC reports, but police say they are investigating.

Russian officials confirmed Malanin's death.

According to Greek media, the official did not report to work yesterday and did not answer the phone. He lives alone in his apartment on a heavily guarded street.

His colleagues went around the apartment with police to check but found the door locked from the inside. They later found him lying on the bedroom floor. Police said the body had no injuries and the house had no signs of forced entry.

The incident comes less than a month after Russian ambassador to Türkiye Andrei Karlov was assassinated, apparently in protest at Moscow's involvement in the air campaign in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

According to VNE