His body was found in the Turkish Mediterranean province of Hatay by local fisherman on Aug. 8 following his disappearance from the Syrian coastal resort city of Latakia – which is close to a key Russian naval facility.
Ivanov allegedly ordered assassinations of many Chechen leaders in both Turkey and abroad.
Russian media outlets remained muted in response to the death until last Saturday, when Russian military media Krasnaya Zvezda, or Red Star, reported that the major-general died in a “tragic swimming accident.” Official reports from Moscow said he was on vacation in Syria when he disappeared, yet other reports say he was holding official talks in Syria.
Turkish authorities appealed to the Russian Embassy and consulates in Turkey, as they found an Orthodox crucifix on the Russian spy. But Russian officials said all Russian tourists in Turkey are safe and secure. Shortly after the corpse was found on the Turkish coast, the Embassy of Russia in Damascus spokesperson Andrey Zaytsev confirmed that a Russian diplomat vacationing in Syria had disappeared while swimming.
The corpse was initially brought to Adana Council of Forensic Medicine (ATK) for an autopsy and later sent to Moscow.
