Berezovsky death: Chemical experts called in

Chemical and radiation experts are assisting the police after exiled Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky was found dead in a bath at his home in the UK. It is believed the former billionaire, who had fallen out with the Kremlin, took his own life, but this has not been confirmed. Thames Valley Police said it had launched an investigation into the death of the 67-year-old at his property in Ascot, Berkshire. His death was "currently unexplained" and a "full inquiry under way", police said. A police statement said: "Specially trained officers are currently at the scene, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) trained officers, who are carrying out a number of searches as a precaution. "The body of the man is still in the property at this time." Mr Berezovsky's lawyer Alexander Dobrovinsky told Russian state television he had been informed by contacts in London that Mr Berezovsky had killed himself. He said: "Berezovsky has been in a terrible state as of late. He was in debt. He felt destroyed. He was forced to sell his paintings and other things." Mr Berezovsky made his fortune in Russia in the 1990s when he bought up state assets which were being sold off cheaply. Mr Berezovsky had lived in Great Britain from 2000, having fled from Russia after falling out with the leadership. He was also a friend of murdered dissident Alexander Litvinenko, who died in London after consuming radioactive polonium in 2006. In 1997 Forbes magazine estimated Mr Berezovsky's wealth at $3bn (£2bn), but in recent years his wealth had been considerably reduced. It is thought he had done badly in the financial crisis. In 2009 his wealth was estimated at £450m, but he is thought to have spent £100m on the £3.7bn lawsuit against Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich last year, which he lost. James Nixey, head of Chatham House's Russia programme, said: "He is the most virulently anti-Kremlin, anti-Putin of the oligarchs. "He was certainly willing to spend his money, what little he had left, in an attempt to use it to end the current regime in Russia. "He had bodyguards, there were attempts on his life that even the security service in the UK had warned him about.