Evgeny Safronov, a 38-year-old Russian journalist who had fled Putin’s regime, died after falling from the seventh floor of his apartment in Meudon, France.

Before his death, he left a note claiming his phone and accounts had been hacked, insisting he had never worked for Russian interests.

Friends reported that Safronov had been experiencing paranoia and severe distress in the days leading up to his death.

Investigators found a chair near the window, medications, and letters written in Russian at the scene, and an inquiry into the circumstances and his state of mind is ongoing, the U.S. Sun has reported.

Safronov had worked for Open Media, a Kremlin-critical outlet, and had previously faced repression in Russia, including detention while covering Navalny-related court cases.