Russian journalist found dead near Paris

The body of 38-year-old Russian journalist Evgeny Safronov was found in Meudon, a suburb of Paris, the newspaper Kommersant reported.

According to BFM TV, Safronov fell from a height of around 20 meters, from the seventh floor of the apartment building where he lived. Le Parisien said he jumped from a window of his apartment on Rue de la Rosire.

Safronov was taken to hospital, where he later died. Police found letters written in Russian in the apartment, drugs in a trash bin and a chair placed near the window, Le Parisien reported.

The newspaper said a roommate was present at the scene, but police were unable to determine whether he witnessed the incident due to a language barrier during questioning.

BFM TV reported that shortly before his death Safronov sent a farewell letter to his relatives, saying he had been the victim of a hacking attack. In the note, he claimed his social media accounts had been hacked, his messages intercepted and his phone compromised.

Journalist Denis Balashov, who lives in France, confirmed that Safronov had complained about hacking attacks a week earlier. Le Parisien also reported that Safronov may have received death threats. The investigation is ongoing.