Russian billionaire tycoon, 49, living in Britain is mysteriously killed in crash involving three cars while walking his dog in Surrey
Russian media say a man knocked down and killed in Surrey is Dmitry Obretetsky, a 49-year-old tycoon
A Russian businessman who lived in Britain has reportedly been hit by a car and killed while walking his dog in Surrey.
Surrey Police say a man in his 40s was knocked down in Oxshott and later died, with Russian media naming him as Dmitry Obretetsky, a 49-year-old tycoon.
Police have appealed for information over the incident involving three cars.
In Russian press today, Obretetsky’s friend Pavel Borovkov questioned whether he was deliberately killed.
Mr Borovkov is quoted by Russian news outlet Life as saying Obretetsky was a long-time resident of Britain but often came back to Russia on business.
Commenting on the fatal crash, he said: ‘You know, people drive cars very carefully in (Britain)… I don’t exclude that he was specially knocked down.’
Surrey police announced a man’s death five days after the incident in Oxshott on 25 November, but have not named the man who died. Detectives have appealed for information and dash cam footage of the incident.
The man’s dog, believed to be called Oscar, was also killed in the road crash.
Obretetsky became an iconic hero with football fans in his homeland during Euro 2008 when he was pictured among a sea of Dutch fans waving a Russian tricolour flag
Media reports in Russia describe Obretetsky as a billionaire who made his fortune in Volgograd after the fall of the Soviet Union before moving to Britain with his wife and children.
He is said to have been in a coma for several days after he and his dog were struck by a vehicle.
Obretetsky, pictured with his dog
Obretetsky became an iconic hero with football fans in his homeland during Euro 2008 when he was pictured among a sea of Dutch fans waving a Russian tricolour flag in a quarter final game when Russia beat Holland 3-1.
His consulting company LLC Advant said: ‘We know very little about what happened. Of course, this is a great loss and tragedy for all of us.’
He founded a household chemicals retail company and was owner of Magnat Trade Enterprise, official distributor for Mars, Nestle, Procter & Gamble in Russia.
His friend Mr Borovkov said today that Obretetsky had created ‘one of the most civilised and European-like companies in our country’.
‘Dmitry was a man of diverse interests, he did not focus only on business.
‘We remember how at the famous quarter-final of the Euro 2008 football tournament he proudly, completely alone in a crowd of Dutch fans, held a large Russian flag with the inscription ‘Volgograd’.
‘He loved contemporary music – hard rock, was a fan of Ozzy Osbourne.’
He was ‘a wonderful friend and colleague, an understanding and friendly person’.
Despite living in Britain – close to several Chelsea stars, according to reports in Moscow – he often visited his homeland.
There had been criticisms of him for his employment methods and a report by Life said: ‘After his death, this business empire risks collapsing miserably, leaving thousands of ordinary residents of Volgograd unemployed.’
Obretetsky was married and his son Ilya, now believed to be 22, had attended Millfield School and is a UK citizen. He also had two daughters at school in England.