"We confirm that he tragically died," Maria Bezborodova said. She said no details of his death were immediately available.
A police source said the journalist's body had been found in his Moscow apartment. "According to preliminary reports, the body showed no visible wounds," the official said.
At the same time he recalled that the reporter had been assaulted earlier. In April 2005, Zimin was attacked by a group of people of "Caucasian appearance" outside his apartment building, who beat him and broke his leg. The assailants took his wallet, ID and cell phone.
Speaking on Ekho Moskvy radio, another NTV reporter said he had come to Zimin's apartment after work and found him dead. "His apartment was a mess; there were signs of a struggle and it was spattered with blood; he was dead," Vadim Takmenev said.
The Moscow Prosecutor's Office said Ilya Zimin's killing was not related to his professional activities.
"At the moment, there is no evidence to suggest that the crime was linked to Zimin's professional activity," the Prosecutor's Office press service said.
An investigation is underway.
