Russian whistleblower dies in strange circumstances

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By ReutersA Russian businessman helping Swiss prosecutors uncover a powerful fraud  syndicate has died in unexplained circumstances near his mansion in  Britain, in a chilling twist to a Russian mafia scandal that has  strained Moscow's ties with the West.

Follow @NBCNewsWorld Alexander Perepilichny,  44, sought refuge in Britain three years ago and had been helping a  Swiss investigation into a Russian money-laundering scheme by providing  evidence against corrupt officials, his colleagues and media reports  said.

He has also provided evidence against those linked to the  2009 death of anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, a case that  caused an international outcry and prompted the United States to push  for a bill cracking down on Russian corruption.

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