Russian official close to Putin dies mysteriously ‘after falling down stairs and breaking his neck’

A retired senior Russian official close to both Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin’s secret services has reportedly died after falling down the stairs of his mansion and breaking his neck.

Former director of the Federal Migration Service Konstantin Romodanovsky, 67, died “under very strange circumstances,” according to Telegram channel VChK-OGPU.

It also said he had “incriminating documents on many current politicians, businessmen and (Secret Service) agency employees.”

For many years, Romondanovsky served as Putin’s “eyes and ears” in various government departments, most notably the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while always remaining a seconded secret service officer.

He was also active and sat on the boards of companies controlled by the powerful secret service FSB.

There was speculation in the Russian media today about various causes of death: hepatitis C, heart problems, complications from diabetes or a simple fall, perhaps under the influence.

A source told the channel: ‘Maybe his death is related to his last drunken bout and he simply lost his balance.

“However, such ‘accidents’ have happened to several well-known businessmen and high-ranking FSB employees closely associated 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, saying:

‘I can’t believe it.

‘I spoke to him last week. He was full of energy and plans.’

There has been no official statement on the cause of his death, but it is the latest of dozens of mysterious deaths during Putin’s war against Ukraine.