Russian actor an outspoken Putin critic is found dead in a pool of blood at his Moscow apartment

 

Russian actor and critic of Vladimir Putin Alexei Dovotchenko, pictured, who has been found dead at his Moscow home

Alexei Dovotchenko was discovered dead at his apartment in Moscow,Some reports say he was found outside by a friend in a pool of blood,While others say he suffered a heart attack or fell injuring himself while drunk,The actor was an outspoken critic of the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin.

A well-known Russian actor who was also an outspoken critic of president Vladimir Putin has been found dead at his home in Moscow.

The body of Alexei Devotchenko was discovered on Wednesday evening in his apartment in the north of the captial, police told Russian news agencies.

Some media reports have said that Mr Devotchenko was discovered by a friend in 'a pool of blood' outside his home.

A police source said: 'There is reason to suppose that the artist's death is of a criminal character.'

The 49-year-old was born in St Petersburg in October 14, 1965 and attended the St Petersburg State Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinematography.

He was best known for his roles in the drama series Bandit St Petersburg and The Street of Broken Lights.

He was also well-known as an outspoken critic of Putin and has taken part in many anti-Kremlin protests.

Three years ago, he returned two state honours that had previously been awarded to him by President Putin for acting.

He said he handed them back in a protest against corruption and political censorship and said he felt 'ashamed' to have received them.

In a later interview he said: 'I am completely fed up with this tzar-statedom with its lies, cover-ups, state sanctioned robbbery, bribery and other virtues.'

 

Mr Dovotchenko handed back two state honours he was awarded by Russian president Vladimir Putin, pictured, saying he felt ashamed of them

Shortly after the interview, he was attacked on the Moscow underground, with reports saying he was 'almost killed.He was also a member of the United Civil Front and in March he signed a letter along with other Russian actors condemning the country's military intervention in Ukraine.

       However, other reports have said he was found inside his apartment, with the Russian Interfax news agency quoting a source in law enforcement that Mr Devotchenko could have died from a heart attack.The source added that there were no signs that the actor suffered a violent death and that he may have fell and hit his head when drunk.

       Russian tabloid LifeNews reported that Devotchenko fell into  a glass cabinet and died of blood loss after sustaining severe cuts to his hands.It added that empty bottles of whiskey and packets of phenazepam, a legal Russian drug prescribed to treat epilepsy, were discovered near his body.Police are investigating but there has not yet been a cause of death established.

Source:UK Daily Mail