A well-known Russian history professor and Napoleon expert has been arrested on suspicion of murder after being pulled from a river with a backpack containing severed arms.

Oleg Sokolov, an academic at St. Petersburg State University, was hauled from the Moika River on Saturday.

He was taken to hospital where he was treated for hypothermia before being questioned at a police station on Sunday.

Police found the body of his student and former lover in his apartment, according to media reports in Russia, which also claim he was drunk and fell into the water as he tried to dispose of the body parts.

Local media reports say Sokolov has signed a confession.


In 2003, Sokolov received the Legion of Honour for his work, France's highest award for military and civil merits.