Investigation into the Death of Mikhail Lesin Has Closed

Manner of Death Determined an Accident

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the FBI, have concluded a comprehensive investigation into the death last year of Mikhail Lesin, 57, a Russian political figure, media executive and adviser to Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia.  As a result of the almost year-long investigation, the Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia has amended Lesin’s manner of death from “undetermined” to “accident” with acute ethanol intoxication as a contributory cause of death.  The investigation has now been closed.

Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, Lesin entered his room at the Dupont Circle Hotel for the final time at about 10:48 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, after days of excessive consumption of alcohol.  Based on the evidence, including video footage and witness interviews, Lesin entered his hotel room on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, after days of excessive consumption of alcohol and sustained the injuries that resulted in his death while alone in his hotel room.  He was found dead late on Thursday morning, Nov. 5, 2015.

After review of the video footage and new evidence developed from the investigation, the Chief Medical Examiner has determined that Lesin died as a result of blunt force injuries to his head, with contributing causes being blunt force injuries of the neck, torso, upper extremities and lower extremities, which were induced by falls, with acute ethanol intoxication.