Russian Actor Who Renounced Two State Prizes Found Dead in Moscow

A well-known Russian actor who was a vocal critic of the rule of Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has been found dead in suspicious circumstances at his home in Moscow. Alexei Devotchenko, 49, was discovered in his apartment in the north of the city, police told Russian news agencies. He expressed outspoken criticism for Putin’s military intervention in the Ukraine and Georgia, describing it as unacceptable and violates those countries’ sovereignty. Mr Devotchenko was known for his roles in several popular television drama series and in performances at the highly regarded Moscow Art Theatre. Some reports said the actor was found by a friend in a pool of blood outside his home while others said he was inside the apartment. In 2011, the actor said he was renouncing two state acting prizes “received from Putin’s hands”, saying he was “ashamed”. “I’ve had enough of all this tsar-state stuff,” he wrote in a blog post. “With its lies, its cover-ups, its legalized theft, its bribe-taking and its other triumphs.”