Vladimir Pasechnik
Soviet-British microbiologist who defected from the Soviet Biopreparat program in 1989. Died of a stroke at age 64.
Vladimir Pasechnik defected from the Soviet Union to the United Kingdom in October 1989 while attending a scientific conference in Toulouse. He had directed the Institute of Ultra-Pure Biological Preparations in Leningrad, one of the principal facilities of the Soviet bioweapons program. His debrief by the British Secret Intelligence Service ran for several months and is credited as the source for the West first comprehensive understanding of the program scale.
He died of a stroke on 21 November 2001 at age 64, two months after the September 11 attacks. The timing fueled press speculation but no investigation has produced evidence of foul play.