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The sudden death of a Russian diplomat at the Russian Embassy in Nicosia has taken a shadowy turn, with claims that the 41-year-old may not have been just a diplomat but an officer in Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, known for its aggressive tactics, controlling special forces (Spetsnaz), and conducting cyber and sabotage operations while reporting to the military command.
According to investigator and author Dmitri Khmelnitsky, whose sources have tracked Russian influence operations in Europe, Alexei Panov, officially listed as a third secretary, was actually a GRU captain. The revelations have sparked international interest, circulating widely in Russian-language and global media.
Panov was found hanging inside the embassy on Jan. 8, 2026. Khmelnitsky says embassy staff waited four days before notifying Cypriot authorities, barred access to the site, and withheld a possible note from Panov. Cyprus Police, however, reject any delay in notification but confirm that they were not allowed inside the embassy, a right protected under diplomatic immunity. Panov’s body was eventually handed over in the embassy’s courtyard.
A Cypriot autopsy ruled the death a hanging “via the loop,” though the circumstances remain opaque. The Russian Embassy described Panov’s passing as a “deeply personal tragedy for family and friends,” without mentioning any ties to intelligence work.
Khmelnitsky calls the embassy’s secrecy “striking” and suggests it may indicate something more than a personal matter. “If this were purely personal, why hide his death for four days?” he said. He speculates that Panov could have been planning an escape that was intercepted, a scenario not uncommon in Russian intelligence circles. Khmelnitsky also notes that Panov may have handled espionage equipment inside and potentially outside the embassy, with most Russian diplomatic activity now reportedly focused on intelligence gathering.
Panov’s past adds fuel to the speculation. Russian journalist Sergey Kanev notes Panov previously worked at a classified Moscow research institute dealing with long-range communications, a workplace closely linked to the GRU and Russia’s aerospace and radar programs. His wife, Anastasia Panova, also worked there, deepening questions about their ties to Russian intelligence.
So far, claims of GRU involvement or an attempted escape have not been officially confirmed. Russian authorities maintain it was a personal tragedy, while Cyprus’ hands were tied by diplomatic immunity, though officials confirm they were promptly informed of the death.
The case leaves lingering questions: Was this a tragic personal act, a failed operation, or something else entirely? For now, the truth remains shrouded behind embassy walls.
