Alexander Perepilichny

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

Alexander Yurevich Perepilichny (15 July 1968 – 10 November 2012) was a Russian businessman and whistleblower who died under some say mysterious circumstances near London in 2012, after leaving Russia in 2009. However the inquest into his death continues and despite running for 4 years no evidence has been produced to prove that he did not die from natural causes. A UK cardiologist employed by the court has concluded he probably died of natural causes. He was alleged to have been killed as part of the conspiracy to cover up the theft of $230 million from the Russian Treasury.

On 10 November 2012, Perepilichny travelled back to the UK from a three-day trip to Paris. After arriving home, he went out to jog, and was found dead on the road by a neighbour. A video of his corpse was widely circulated online in the aftermath of his death.
Perepilichny had no reported health issues when he collapsed. Two autopsies proved inconclusive, as did advanced toxicology tests. Two years after his death, Perepilichnyy's life insurance company ordered tests that detected a toxin from a Chinese flowing plant called Gelsemium in his stomach; the plant is nicknamed "heartbreak grass" because its leaves trigger cardiac arrest if ingested.
Fiona Barton, the lawyer for Surrey Police, has continued to maintain that "No identifiable toxin was found and that remains the case," she said.

Weeks after his death, the British press reported that in 2011 Perepilichny's name had been placed on a list of targets wanted dead in connection with the Treasury theft.
Geoffrey Robertson QC, representing the company which had led the fraud investigation, stated in court that Perepilichny may have been talking to the British security services shortly before his death. He described 45 sensitive documents that had been kept secret under public interest immunity as a "cover-up." In 2017, it was reported that U.S. intelligence officials passed MI6 intelligence indicating that Perepilichnyy was likely "assassinated on direct orders from Putin or people close to him.” A U.S. intelligence report to Congress asserted with "high confidence" that Perepilichnyy was assassinated on the orders of Russian officials.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/01/the-poison-flower/508736/

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Joseph Lloyd