Russian ambassador to Sudan, Mirgayas Shirinsky found dead in a swimming pool

Sudanese police confirms that Russia's ambassador to Sudan, Mirgayas Shirinsky was found dead in a swimming pool at his residence in Khartoum. A preliminary investigation indicated he died of natural causes.

Although his death is not suspicious, Shirinsky is the fourth Russian diplomat to die in service in the past year. In February, Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin died suddenly in his New York office. A month earlier, Alexander Kadakin, the Russian ambassador to India, died following a brief illness. Last December, Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov was shot dead in Ankara by a Turkish policeman.

Sudanese police announced 63-year-old Mr Shirinsky's death on Wednesday eveningthrough spokesman Omar al-Mokhtar saying he was "found dead in the swimming pool of his residence at 7:05pm (16:05 GMT). Preliminary investigation shows that his death was natural".