Missing Russian politician Mikhail Pakhomov found dead encased in barrel of fresh CEMENT

The body of a missing Russian politician was today found encased in a barrel of fresh cement in Moscow.

Mikhail Pakhomov, 36, was abducted from his hometown of Lipetsk, over 200 miles away from where his body was found, last week.

The father of two was a prominent member of Lipetsk city council and is believed to have been killed over a debt.

Ordered killing: Police found the barrel in a garage in Moscow, over 200 miles away from where the married father-of-two was abducted

Mr Pakhomov"s body showed signs of violence and torture prior to death, police told Russian media.

Police have arrested eight people suspected of involvement in the death of Mr Pakhomov, including a 40-year-old former states utilities official named Yevgeny Kharitonov.

Police say the motive for the murder may be that Mr Pakhomov, an up-and-coming member of pro-Kremlin party United Russia, owed Mr Kharitonov money,

They believe Mr Kharitonov ordered the murder and he has been charged with armed kidnapping.

Seven others have been charged with abduction and stealing £8,500 worth of items from Mr Pakhomov when he was kidnapped.

Uncovered: Law enforcement servicemen carry Mikhail Pakhomov's body from a garage in the Moscow region where it was found six days after his abduction in Lipetsk

Murder tale: The cement-filled barrel containing Mr Pakhomov's body was located after his belongings were found in a car pulled over for speeding

It appears the abductors made a series of mistakes which led police to Mr Pakhomov"s body, Russian media reports.

Witnesses saw three men pushing another into a car in Lipetsk on February 12, leaving Mr Pakhomov"s jeans, a shoe and his mobile phone behind, allowing police to identify him as the victim.

The following day, a number of his belongings were found in a car when it was stopped for speeding.

Two men, the driver and his passenger, were arrested and their evidence led police to Mr Pakhomov"s body encased in cement in a barrel in a private garage in Moscow.