Police seek to trace black van in Nikolay Glushkov death probe

Detectives investigating the suspected murder of a Russian businessman in London have released CCTV footage of a black van they wish to trace.

Scotland Yard said the Volkswagen van was spotted near the home of Nikolay Glushkov the day before he was found dead earlier this year.

The 68-year-old, who was a close friend of Vladimir Putin critic Boris Berezovsky, was discovered at his house on Clarence Avenue, New Malden, on March 12.

An inquest opening heard his cause of death was compression to the neck.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "The Volkswagen van was seen in and around Clarence Avenue between 7.30pm and 10.30pm on Sunday March 11.

"Detectives are keen to identify the van and driver, who they believe could have information that may help with their inquiries."

Mr Glushkov fled Russia after being accused of fraud during his time as deputy director of the Russian airline Aeroflot, and had lived in London for two years.

Last year, during a trial in absentia he was sentenced to eight years in a Russian prison, convicted of stealing £87 million from the airline.

He was due to attend the commercial court in London to defend himself on March 12 - the day his body was discovered.

Police, who launched a murder investigation four days after his death, say they have obtained a total of 286 witness statements and have seized 1,086 exhibits to date.

There is currently nothing to suggest any link to the attempted murders in Salisbury, or any evidence that he was poisoned, the force added.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should call police on 0800 789 321.