The Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine, developed by a Russian scientist, was discovered strangled by a belt in his apartment.
The perpetrator, Andrey Botikov, was apprehended shortly after the scientist’s death and admitted to carrying out the lethal attack.
Botikov was one of eighteen scientists who contributed to the development of Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine, and he received national recognition for his efforts from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
While investigators blamed his death on a “domestic dispute,” Botikov’s death follows a string of deaths of scientists and businessmen in the country in the last two years in which foul play was suspected.
Botivok’s death comes after reports from top investigative agencies, including the Department of Energy and the FBI, reaffirming that the Covid-19 virus originated in a lab in China, rather than in a wet market.
Social media users speculated that Botivok’s death was politically motivated, with some claiming that he was about to reveal damaging information about the Covid-19 vaccine.
Business Insider Reports:
BREAKING: Andrey Botikov, the scientist who created the first COVID vaccine, WAS JUST FOUND STRANGLED TO DEATH IN HIS APARTMENT. Was he about to reveal the truth?
— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) March 5, 2023
According to a Telegram post by the Russian Federation’s Investigative Committee, a top Russian scientist who helped develop the country’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine was found dead in his apartment on Thursday.
According to the statement, the death of Andrey Botikov, a senior researcher at the Gamaleya National Research Center for Ecology and Mathematics, is being investigated as a murder.
Investigators believe a 29-year-old man strangled the 47-year-old virologist with a belt during an argument and then fled.
A suspect was apprehended shortly after Botikov’s body was discovered in his Moscow apartment.
“The location of the attacker was established in short order. During the interrogation, he pled guilty and was charged,” authorities said, according to Russian News Agency TASS.
The committee also stated that the attacker had previously been charged with “committing a serious crime.” The investigators intend to “petition the court to detain the defendant pending trial.”
According to The Daily Beast, Botikov was one of 18 scientists who helped develop Russia’s COVID vaccine in 2020 and was awarded an Order of Merit for the Fatherland by Vladimir Putin in 2021.
