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IKEA Manager from Sweden Commits Suicide

A Swedish manager with IKEA has committed suicide in an elite Moscow region village, Interfax reported Thursday, citing a regional law enforcement source. 

Kenneth Persson, 63, hanged himself at his house, Interfax said. The source provided no other information on the incident. 

Repeated calls to the Moscow region police went unanswered. 

Persson died Tuesday night, IKEA said by e-mail. 

Persson arrived in Russia in 2008 to work in IKEA as a midlevel manager in the company's construction and real estate department, IKEA said. His last place of work was at the Mega Mall in Khimki, it said. 

The tabloid Lifenews reported that Persson had been drinking a lot lately, and investigators were looking into whether problems at work might have led to the suicide. But co-workers said he had not complained of difficulties, it said. 

IKEA also said it did not link Persson's suicide to his work. 

He is survived by his wife and an 8-year-old son, Lifenews said. 

IKEA said it would provide all the necessary support to his family.

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