MOSCOW, March 16 (RAPSI) – The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has filed a request with the U.S. Ministry of Justice asking for legal assistance in the investigation into the death of former press minister Mikhail Lesin, RIA Novosti reported on Wednesday.

Lesin, 57, died on November 5, 2015, in a hotel located in Washington. Russia Today (RT) quoted family members as saying Lesin died of a heart attack.

It was later revealed with reference to US coroners that the body had blunt force injuries to the neck, torso, arms and legs. No other details from the post-mortem examination were provided, and it is still unclear how the injuries had been sustained.

The Washington Post reported citing the police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck that  the case remained under investigation.

From 1999 till 2004, Lesin was a Minister of Press, Broadcasting and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation. In 2004-2009, he was an advisor for Russian president, specializing in media and information technologies. In 2013-2015, he headed state-controlled media giant Gazprom-Media.