Sudden death of jailed Russian tycoon’s ex wife remains a mystery

The death of a 52-year-old woman who was the wife of a jailed Russian Oligarch remains a mystery weeks after she was found dead in her £15 million west London mansion.

‘Healthy’ Irina Izmestieva was last month found dead at her Kensington home, sparking a demand from the capital’s most prominent Moscow emigre that MI5 should investigate.

Officers were flagged down on the Kensington street in London where Irina Izmestieva, 52, lived after being contacted by a worried friend on November 12.

They had to get in through a basement window where they found Ms Izmestieva – also known as Irina Ford – dead on her sofa.

Ms Izmestieva’s former husband Igor has been sentenced to life in a high security Russian jail

Her former husband Igor – sentenced to life in a high security Russian jail over contract killings 13 years ago – has been informed she has died.

While police confirmed last month they are not treating the death as suspicious, it was reported the coroner is considering opening an investigation.

It has now been revealed that Mrs Izmestieva’s cause of death remains a mystery weeks after she was found at her mansion last month.

A Coroner’s Officer at Inner West London Coroner’s Office, told The Telegraph that they are still investigating her death and that it could take a further four to six weeks to conclude the cause.

The mother-of-two’s long-time friend and personal assistant, Oxana Mason also told the newspaper she hadn’t heard from the coroner yet, and was waiting to hear so that she could ‘organise the funeral’ for her friend of over 12 years.

She added: ‘The coroner didn’t tell us anything so we are waiting for their report, there was only a quick phone call saying that they are still investigating…that they are waiting for the result.’