Top Kremlin Security Official Dies in Tajikistan

A senior Russian officer in President Dmitry Medvedev's security entourage died in the Tajikistan capital Dushanbe ahead of a visit by the Kremlin chief, the Tajik interior ministry said Thursday.

The 38-year-old Vladimir Kuznetsov died of a heart attack in the Dushanbe's Hyatt Regency hotel on Wednesday, the ministry said, adding doctors have ruled out foul play.

Kuznetsov headed the communications department of Russia's presidential security service which protects Medvedev.

He arrived in Dushanbe on August 26 to arrange security and a special communications network for Medvedev's visit to Tajikistan.

Medvedev is due to arrive in Dushanbe late on Thursday on an official visit to Tajikistan, where he will also participate in the summit of the heads of state of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a group of 12 ex-Soviet nations, on Saturday.