Retired Russian spy general Igor Laptev found dead in Moscow

Major-General Igor Laptev, an 83-year-old retired Russian spy general, was found dead in his Moscow apartment on August 20. His body was discovered by relatives in his study on Verkhnyaya Krasnoselskaya Street with a gunshot wound to the head. A pistol was found near the body, and while some reports suggest Laptev may have taken his own life, the official motive remains unknown and it is unclear if a suicide note was left.

Laptev held high-level security clearances and had a long career in Russian intelligence, including service in the KGB and FSB. He specialized in information security and participated in combat operations during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. He also served as Russia’s deputy minister for taxes and levies during the presidency of Boris Yeltsin.

Most recently, Laptev served as chairman of the Informtekhnika group, a company that develops protected communications and information systems used to transmit state secrets for the Russian Defence and Interior ministries. The Investigative Committee has confirmed the incident but has not yet released official details regarding the circumstances of his death or the ongoing investigation.