Russian scientist who developed Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine strangled to death

Russian scientist Andrey Botikov, who helped create Russia's Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, was found dead in his apartment in Moscow on Thursday. He was strangled to death with a belt, Russian media reported on Saturday.

Botikov, 47, worked as a senior researcher at the Gamaleya National Research Center for Ecology and Mathematics, Russian media quoted the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation as saying. The suspect was arrested hours after Botikov's body was found, the federal investigative agency said in a statement.

According to investigators, the 29-year-old suspect Botikov strangled him with a belt during an argument. Law enforcement officials said the killing was a domestic crime and the result of a conflict, the report said. Russia's investigative body said the virologist's death was being investigated as a homicide.

"The location of the attacker was determined in a short time. During interrogation, he confessed and was charged. The defendant has a previous criminal record, having appeared in court on charges of committing a serious crime. In the near future, the investigation plans to ask the court to remand the defendant pending trial," the investigative committee said.

The virologist was awarded the Order of Merit to the Fatherland by Russian President Vladimir Putin for his work on the Covid vaccine in 2021. Botikov was one of 18 scientists who developed the Sputnik V vaccine in 2020.