Senior Russian diplomat found dead in his Athens apartment

ATHENS - A senior Russian diplomat was found dead in his apartment in the Greek capital city yesterday.

Andrey Malanin, 54, was found on the floor of his bedroom by a member of the embassy's staff on Monday, after he failed to report for work, the Mail Online reported.

A Greek police official confirmed the death of the head of Russian embassy’s consular section, and said homicide officers had now been drafted in to help with the investigation due to Mr Malanin's diplomatic status.

Police said a coroner will examine the body, while homicide officers will also investigate the death.

Officers said there are no immediate indications of foul play and the body had no visible injuries.

Malanin is understood to have lived alone in a Russian embassy-owned building on a heavily-guarded street where the official residence of the Greek prime minister and president also reside.

His death comes weeks after Russia's ambassador to Turkey, Andrey Karlov, was assassinated by a rogue police officer at a photo exhibition in Ankara last month.

Ambassador Andrey Karlov was gunned down in Ankara by 22-year-old police recruit Mevlut Mert Altintas who shouted 'Don't forget Aleppo' as he murdered the diplomat before he was shot dead.