Fresh appeal after mysterious death of critic of Russian President in a quiet South London suburb

By Toby Porter

The death of a Russian critic of President Putin is still a mystery three years after it happened in a quiet suburban South London street.

Detectives from the MPS Counter Terrorism Command investigating the death of Nikolai Glushkov in 2018 are making a fresh appeal for information.

Mr Glushkov, a father-of-two from Russia, was found dead at his home in Clarence Avenue, New Malden on the evening of 12 March 2018.

His death came a week after former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33, were poisoned with nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury.

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

 

Three years on, the investigation remains open and officers are asking anyone who may have information to come forward.

Police believe evidence to imply his death was suicide had been placed there by his killers.

A black Volkswagen van was seen in and around Clarence Avenue on the evening of Sunday 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.

Commander Richard Smith, head of the MPS Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This has been a hugely complex, challenging investigation from the outset.

“Officers have taken hundreds of statements and collected a large amount of evidential material, but so far no arrests have been made.

“Three years have passed and we are again asking the public, particularly people who live in or visit the New Malden area, to cast their minds back to 12 March 2018.

“Did you see a black Volkswagen van in or around Clarence Avenue that day? Did you see anything that in retrospect was unusual or suspicious? Anything you can recall might be crucial to our investigation.”

Since the investigation was launched, detectives have contacted over 1,800 witnesses and taken more than 420 statements.

Officers have also viewed 2,200 hours of CCTV footage, and 1,200 exhibits – including forensic samples, as well as physical items – have been collected as part of the investigation.

Detectives have made no arrests during this investigation, nor has anyone been interviewed under caution.

Anyone with information is asked to call 0800 789 321 quoting Operation Bulblet. Alternatively, call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Mr Glushkov, 68, was a retired financial director who had lived at the address in Clarence Avenue for two years.

+ The inquest into Mr Glushkov’s death is due to be held at West London Coroner’s Court on Friday, 9 April 2021.