Moscow, April 25 -- The Deputy Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Yaroslav Moskalik, died in a car explosion in Balashikha near Moscow on Friday, TASS reported, citing Russian Investigative Committee Spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko.

An improvised explosive device caused the blast, and an investigation is being conducted. The explosion occurred near building number 2 at Nesterova Boulevard in Balashikha.

Yaroslav Moskalik (59) represented the Russian Ministry of Defence in various negotiations. TASS reported that the Russian Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case into the explosion under Articles 105 and 222.1 of the Criminal Code (murder, illegal trafficking in explosives...