The Insider: Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Cryptographer Found Dead in Cyprus Had Contact with Lavrov

Anton Panov, a cryptographer with Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) who was found dead at the Russian Embassy in Cyprus, had been in telephone contact with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov prior to his trip.

This was reported by The Insider, citing an analysis of Panov’s phone bills.

In addition to Lavrov, Panov communicated with the minister’s adviser Bakhtiyar Khakimov, deputy ministers Mikhail Bogdanov and Galina Shulga, as well as the head of the currency and finance department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrey Lysikov.

According to journalists, the currency and finance department of the Russian Foreign Ministry is often used to cover up personnel officers of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service and the Main Directorate of the General Staff.

Panov also contacted Russian ambassadors in Moldova and Hungary, as well as an advisor to the Russian embassy in Uzbekistan.

Separately, Panov’s calls to former senator from occupied Crimea Sergei Tsekov and Alexander Borisov from Luhansk, known for his denunciations of opposition politicians and independent media, were recorded.

Panov’s body was found on January 8 in his office on the territory of the Russian embassy in Cyprus; local law enforcement officers were not allowed to investigate.

The diplomatic mission claimed it was suicide, but journalists confirmed that Panov was a cryptographer for the Foreign Intelligence Service and had previously worked at the Atlas Scientific and Technical Center, which develops cryptographic tools for Russian special services.

Recently, a car belonging to a Russian rocket technology developer was blown up in New Moscow.