The parents of an Oxford student are convinced their son was murdered by the latter-day KGB.

Anton Tchetvertakov was found slumped behind the door of his room at St Anne's College in February - the victim of an apparent hanging. Police maintain that the death of the 22-year-old research chemist was not suspicious, although Anton's family said he would not have taken his own life.

His father Nikolay said: "For me, there is no doubt that it was not suicide. I believe Anton was an object of interest for the Russian intelligence services. He would have rejected them and for that I believe he paid with his life." Anton's parents believe spies are hiding among the city's dreaming spires and they have identified one man - who cannot be named for legal reasons - who they think played an indirect role in Anton's death.

Mr Tchetvertakov, a business consultant from north London, claimed this man tried to recruit his son as an agent and when Anton threatened to expose the man to MI5, a hit squad from the SVR - the Russian bureau for overseas intelligence - silenced him for good.

Mr Tchetvertakov suspects that the SVR is funding the £10,000 cost of the man's stay at Oxford. Anton's father said: "I think this person is an SVR student. For a start his English is very good, and the SVR academy teaches only languages. When they qualify they are sent abroad to prestigious universities like Oxford.

"Anton was more English than Russian, having lived here for nine years. I warned Anton to be careful. I am Russian - I know what our system means, even today. Nothing changes under the surface. But Anton told me not to worry. He felt he was old enough to look after himself."

Anton had a girlfriend and the day before his death had celebrated the successful conclusion of some research.

Story date: Monday 24 May

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.