A top former Kremlin bodyguard who was serving a 10-year sentence on bribery charges has died in prison after an unspecified illness, a prison monitoring official said. Viktor Boborykin, of the Public Monitoring Commission, said "there was no crime" in the death of Gennady Lopyrev, who was a lieutenant general in the Federal Guards Service prior to his 2017 sentencing. Some media reports said the 69-year-old Lopyrev had no prior medical condition and had planned to apply for early release. The RBK news outlet said Lopyrev oversaw for state facilities in southern Russia, including the construction of a presidential residence near Sochi. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities, click here.
Former Top Kremlin Bodyguard Who Was Sentenced For Bribery Dies In Prison Of Sudden Illness
Gennady Lopyrev (right) is seen after a hearing outside the 94th Garrison Military Court in January 2017.