Riddle over death of red spy’s British husband aged 36
THE British ex-husband of Anna Chapman, the Russian secret agent who was exchanged for Sergei Skripal in a Cold-War style spy swap, died two years ago when he was just 36.
Alex Chapman, a former public schoolboy, was married to Russian spy Mrs Chapman for four years until they divorced in 2006. His family insist his early death was from ‘natural causes’.
The couple met in 2001 in London and, after a whirlwind romance, they married in Moscow in 2002. They lived in the UK before moving to New York. Mrs Chapman now 36, was arrested by the American authorities in 2010 and accused of being part of one of the biggest Soviet spy rings ever uncovered.
That year she was one of ten Russian agents sent home in the largest spy swap since the Cold War – with Mr Skripal one of four spies exchanged for the Russians.
Flame-haired Mrs Chapman, who despite her divorce has maintained her married name, returned to Moscow a heroine. She is now working as a TV host, and is said to be a millionaire.
Mr Chapman, who was last believed to be living in Bournemouth, Dorset, found himself at the centre of the spy scandal when it was revealed his ex-wife had been tasked with seducing power brokers in Washington DC.
Last night his father Kevin refused to reveal any details of his son’s death, saying only: ‘It was two years ago and that is all I will say.’ Another family member, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘It was very distressing at the time, but he died from natural causes. His father dealt with everything and it was very sad.’ ÷ Natalia Glushkov, 34, the socialite daughter of Nikolai Glushkov, the Russian dissident found dead in London on Monday, had published a thinly veiled online attack on Vladimir Putin in 2010, it emerged last night.