Georgian tycoon's death 'natural': UK police

14 Feb, 2008 23:37 / Updated 16 years ago

Georgian billionaire and opposition leader Badri Patarkatsishvili died naturally, according to British police. They say an inquest showed no signs of foul play although detailed toxicology tests may take weeks.

Patarkatsishvili died suddenly late Tuesday night of what his family say was a heart attack. Patarkatsishvili’s family confirmed he died of a heart attack. However, the Surrey police, who are investigating the case, say they treat all unexpected deaths as suspicious until they can prove otherwise. The police say no radioactive substances have been involved in Patarkatsishvili’s death. They have been on alert over the possibility of the use of radioactive materials after the murder of former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko in London two years ago. Meanwhile Georgia's opposition believes the heart attack might have been induced. “We’ve all read detective stories and we all know that there are many means to make that look as a natural heart attack,” said Salome Zurabishvili, Georgian opposition leader.