Scientist Behind Russia’s ‘Sputnik V’ COVID Vaccine Murdered

Andrey Botikov, one of the key scientists involved in the creation of the Russian Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V, was murdered in his apartment in Moscow. According to reports, he was strangled to death with a belt. Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder, the Russian media reported on Saturday.

Botikov, 47, was one of 18 scientists who developed the Sputnik V vaccine in 2020. He was a senior researcher at the Gamaleya National Research Center for Ecology and Mathematics. He was found dead in his apartment on Thursday, Russian News Agency TASS reported.

Russian President Vladimir Putin honoured this virologist with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland award for his work on the Covid vaccine in 2021.

According to initial information, a 29-year-old man strangled Botikov with a belt during an argument and fled. Russian police said the murder was a domestic crime and the result of a conflict. The suspect was arrested shortly after Botikov’s body was found.