‘Antov & Bydanov cremated according to Russian custom’

Bhubaneswar: Amid questions over the cremation of the two Russians, including Vladimir Putin-critic Antov Pavel instead of their burial in Odisha, the state Crime Branch has learnt from their family members that Pavel’s mother too was cremated in Russia and cremation is a standard custom in the country. The Rayagada police allowed cremation of the bodies of Pavel and his co-traveller Bydanov Vladimir, who died under mysterious circumstances in their hotel on December 22 and 24, after receiving power of attorney from their respective family members. Death of Pavel, who was a rich lawmaker, triggered suspicion of a hit-job as many of Putin critics were killed in similar fashion in different countries in the past.
“During our interaction with Pavel’s 35-year-old daughter Antova Anna Pavlovna, she said his (Pavel) mother too was cremated in Russia a few years ago. She did not raise objection to her father’s cremation as the practice is valid and routine in Russia. People in Russia bury as well as cremate bodies,” a Crime Branch official said.
The agency tried to find out as to why Pavel’s family did not try to repatriate his body and learnt that he had been staying alone in Russia following his divorce from both wives. His estranged family members did not evince interest to take his body back to Russia to perform the last rites, sources said.
Vladimir’s 28-year-old son Bydanov Anton Vladimirovich and Antova sent their official written consents for cremation of the bodies and gave the power of attorney to Turov Mikhail, who accompanied the deceased to Odisha, to perform the funeral and collect the ashes. Rayagada police had received the power of attorney from the Russian consulate general office in Kolkata.
In a related development, the Crime Branch has hired a Russian interpreter to ensure smooth interactions with the family members as well as other acquaintances of the deceased. “Until now, the Crime Branch had been relying on Jitendra Singh, the guide-cum-interpreter of the Russian tourists. Since Singh is their man, we hired our own translator for a fair investigation,” the official said.