Murder mystery of ex-Aeroflot chief: Police in London still seeking to trace dark van parked near his home

Nearly nine years after Russian businessman Nikolai Glushkov was found strangled at his London home, police are still trying to trace a mystery black van seen outside the property the night before his death.

A post-mortem found that the 68-year-old had been strangled, prompting police to launch a murder investigation.

No one has ever been arrested over his death and, despite a series of public appeals, the black Volkswagen van and its driver have never been traced.

The vehicle was seen in and around Clarence Avenue on the evening of March 11, and police say it remains an important line of enquiry in the investigation.

Mr Glushkov, a prominent Kremlin critic, was described by his close friend, former PR and advertising executive Lord Bell, as a “very charming, funny, affectionate man who had a troubled past".

Nikolai Glushkov was found dead at his home in Clarence Avenue, New Malden, on the evening of March 12, 2018

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Mr Glushkov was jailed in 1999 for five years after being charged with money laundering and fraud.

After receiving a suspended sentence for another count of fraud in 2006, he was granted political asylum in the UK in 2010 and became a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Glushkov was a close friend of fellow Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky, who moved to the UK in 1999 after falling out with Mr Putin.

Mr Berezovsky was found hanged in the bathroom of his Berkshire home in 2013 and an inquest recorded an open verdict.

A spokesperson for Counter Terror Policing in London told The Standard: “The investigation into the death of Nikolai Glushkov in 2018 remains open, although there are currently no active lines of enquiry.

Police are still searching for a black Volkswagen van seen in and around Clarence Avenue on the evening of March 11

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“Mr Glushkov was found dead at his home in Clarence Avenue, New Malden on the evening of 12 March 2018.

“A post-mortem found that he had been strangled and, as a result, a murder investigation was launched.

“Officers remain particularly keen to hear from anyone who saw a black Volkswagen van that was seen in and around Clarence Avenue on the evening of 11 March 2018, the day before Mr Glushkov was found dead.

“Neither the vehicle nor the driver have been traced despite public appeals, and it remains an important line of enquiry for the investigation team. There have been no arrests.

Counter-terror police investigating the murder of Nikolai Klushkov, at the crime scene outside his home in New Malden

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“Anyone with information is asked to call the Anti-Terrorism Hotline on 0800 789 321 quoting Operation Bulblet. Alternatively, call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“Officers followed up a number of leads that were generated as a result of the public appeals, but, unfortunately these did not result in any significant breakthroughs - not prepared to discuss further.”

According to felon assistance experts at freegrantsforfelons.org, nine murder investigations in London from the last 40 years are still unsolved.

Most of the victims were stabbed, and in six of the cases a reward of £20,000 or more has been offered for information.