Igor Redkin, the Russian politician and millionaire who admitted to killing a man he mistook for a bear

A Russian politician and millionaire from the east of the country admitted to killing a man who he says he mistook for a bear.

Igor Redkin, 55, said in a statement to Russian media that he had heard that there was a bear prowling the garbage in the town of Ozernovsky, in the Kamchatka region.

Wanting to drive away the alleged animal, he shot, and later learned “that a resident had been injured in that same area at that time,” he said.

The 30-year-old man who was shot later died in hospital. Last week a criminal investigation of the case was opened.

Redkin is the co-owner of several large businesses on the Kamchatka Peninsula and has been described as one of the richest politicians in Russia.

He said he is “prepared to accept the punishment determined by the courts”.

Since the incident, the United Russia party led by the president has left Vladimir Putin.

According to Russian media, the politician will spend two months under house arrest during the investigation.