A Belgian senior executive at one of the world's largest steel companies fell to his death close to the Kremlin in Moscow.

The body of Bruno Charles De Cooman, Vice President of Research and Development at Novolipetsk Steel, also known as NLMK, was found below a block of flats in downtown Moscow on Wednesday afternoon.

It has been reported that Dr De Cooman 'fell out of a window', however it is not yet known how he fell or if his death was an accident. Police sources told Russian media they were not treating it as a criminal case.

De Cooman, believed to have been 59, arrived at the a 12-storey building on the embankment on the opposite side of the Moskva river from the Kremlin yesterday afternoon with a friend.

He planned to go up to his apartment and then return, a friend said, but his body was found minutes later on the ground below.

Mystery: The body of Bruno Charles De Cooman, Vice President of research and development at NLMK was found on the street below a block of flats in downtown Moscow

'The body of a man was found near a house on Serafimovich Street with signs characteristic of a fall from a height,' a Moscow Police source told TASS News Agency.

The source told the news agency that an investigation into the death of Dr De Cooman has been launched.

TASS news agency quoted a source as saying no traces of a struggle were found during a preliminary search of the businessman's flat.

Dr De Cooman, originally from Belgium, had only been named VP of Research and Development at NLMK last year. Shocked colleagues said there were no signs that he was 'suicidal'.

The company, owned by Vladimir Lisin who Forbes lists as one of Russia's wealthiest oligarchs, is one of the four largest steel companies in Russia, and produces a fifth of the country's crude steel. It employs about 2,500 people in Europe, with about 1,000 in Belgium.

Lisin has close ties to Scotland and has an estate at Aberuchill in Perthshire.

NLMK confirmed the death of Dr De Cooman, but would not comment on any details of the incident until 'circumstances are clarified'.

New job: Dr De Cooman, from Belgium, was named as the new VP for Research and Development at NLMK a year ago

Scene: Dr De Cooman was found on the street below this block of flats in Moscow

Investigation: It has been reported that Dr De Cooman 'fell out of a window', however it is not yet known if his death was an accident

'It is with the deepest regret that we confirm the tragic death of Dr. Bruno de Cooman, NLMK Group Vice President for Research and Development, in Moscow today,' the company told MailOnline in a statement.

'We are devastated by the news and pass our sincere condolences to Bruno's loved ones.'

Dr De Cooman, a noted academic who had published more than 500 academic papers, began his studies at Ghent University in Belgium and went on to obtain a doctorate at the prestigious Ivy League Cornell University in the United States.

According to NLMK, he had an international career in materials research and development management at various industrial laboratories and academic institutions.

He had previously worked for technology giant Phillips and had worked in South Korea, also working at the country's Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea.

Properties are rented for around £3,000 a month at the prestigious address. The sprawling block, with stunning views of the Kremlin, was built by Stalin to keep his key lieutenants living under one roof.

Many faced a night time call to be exiled to Siberia or shot in the Lubyanka. It is reputed to be haunted.