Russian mayor commits suicide in prison hospital
MOSCOW, November 10 - The mayor of the city of Podolsk in the Moscow region, accused of organizing a double contract murder, on Wednesday committed suicide in the Matrosskaya Tishina investigation prison in Moscow, the acting head of the federal penitentiaries service told.
Alexander Fokin hanged himself in the prison hospital and was found dead at 3 am, Moscow time, on Wednesday. His neighbor at the hospital ward woke up and called prison staffers. They tried to reanimate Davydov, but failed.
The former mayor left a note, which said he did not want to be imprisoned for what he was accused of, although the investigation was still in progress, Vladimir Davydov said.
There were no marks on his body other than the rope mark.
On April 22, 2005, the Moscow region prosecutor?s office accused the mayor of masterminding the murder of the first deputy head of the Podolsk administration, Petr Zabrodin. Zabrodin was his contender at a mayoral election.
He was killed on June 13, 2002 in the village of Salkovo, Podolsk region. His driver also died of wounds at the site of the crime. A woman traveling in the same car was gravely wounded.
Three Fokin?s guards were accused of the murder.
State Duma deputy Alexander Khinstein expressed confidence that by committing suicide Fokin wanted to escape lawful punishment, as his guilt had been established.
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