Police suspect that Shebarshin, 77, killed himself. A suicide note and a pistol were found in his apartment. Local investigators have opened an inquiry into his death.
Shebarshin was a KGB agent from 1964 to 1991, serving as a spy in Pakistan, India and Iran, RIA-Novosti reported. From 1989 to 1991, he served as the head of the KGB's foreign intelligence service.
In August 1991, during the coup attempt led in part by former KGB head Vladimir Kryuchkov and assisted by KGB agents, Shebarshin served as interim head of the infamous Soviet intelligence agency. In late 1991, Shebarshin retired from government service and founded a private company with security service colleagues called National Russian Economic Security Service.
He authored several books and articles on the history of foreign intelligence work.