Jump to content

Suspicious deaths of notable Russians in 2022–2024

Extended-protected article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Leonid Shulman)

Ravil Maganov, chairman of the national oil company Lukoil, fell from a Kremlin Hospital window under suspicious circumstances, according to reports: CCTV cameras had been "turned off for repairs", President Putin was visiting the hospital the same day, and associates did not believe he was suicidal.

Since the beginning of 2022, numerous prominent Russians, particularly business people and notable officials, have died under what some sources suggest were suspicious circumstances.[1][2][3][4] Some of the highest profile incidents included victims' families also dying and numerous cases of individuals falling out of windows.

Analysis

On 3 June 2022 the Dutch NOS news network described the phenomenon as "a grim series of Russian billionaires, many from the oil and gas industries, who have been found dead under unusual circumstances since early this year. The first was on 30 January, when 60-year-old Leonid Shulman, transport chief for Russian energy giant Gazprom, was found dead in the bathroom of his country house in the Leningrad region. Beside his body was a suicide note."[4] On 6 July 2022, CNN Portugal described the group as "millionaires with direct or indirect links to the Kremlin found dead in a mystery scenario since the beginning of the year".[5] It referred to a previous investigation by USA Today, which concluded that "38 Russian businessmen and oligarchs close to the Kremlin died in mysterious or suspicious circumstances between 2014 and 2017."[5] The phenomenon has been called "sudden Russian death syndrome" or "sudden oligarch death syndrome", a play on sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.[6][7] A number of them died by falling from heights, including possible defenestrations.[7]

Some commentators ruled out suicides or poor health.[8] Other commentators, including Fiona Hill and Mark Galeotti, are skeptical of such conspiracies.[8] They point out the deaths are not necessarily all connected, and that it is far more likely some really are suicides, and some could be killings by competing influential clans to wipe out competitors without a centralized Kremlin effort.

The suicide rate in Russia is the third-highest in the world,[8] and similar trends have been noted in 2020 about doctors who have treated COVID-19 patients falling from high windows.[8] Suicides could be further increased especially in the Russian business community due to substantial pressure from the war in Ukraine and international sanctions.[8]

Calls for further investigations

Friends and families of the deceased Russian businessmen generally found it "unthinkable" that they killed themselves – and in some cases also their wives and children – and have demanded an independent investigation into the mysterious deaths.[4] Igor Volobuyev [uk], the Ukrainian-born ex-vice-chairman of Gazprombank, who left Russia during the outbreak of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and joined the Freedom of Russia Legion,[9][10] said in an interview with The Insider that he thought that his former colleague Vladislav Avayev's alleged murder of his family and subsequent suicide had been staged: "Why? That is difficult to say. Perhaps he knew something and posed some kind of danger."[4][11] Likewise, Sergey Protosenya's son, who was not in Spain when his parents and sister were found dead in Lloret de Mar, stated his father was not the perpetrator ("my father is not a murderer"), but that his parents and sister were murdered by someone else.[4] Protosenya was the former CEO of gas giant Novatek, which published a statement saying he was "a real family man", and called on the Spanish authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation.[4]

Businessman and critic of the Russian federal government Bill Browder has opined that Putin is personally ordering executions of influential business leaders in critical sectors whom he feels will not be yes-men and intimidates their successors with threats of death or violence.[12] In Russian mokroye delo or “wet work” is the name given to the business of assassination with people told to commit suicide or they and their families will receive a visitation.[6]

According to an investigative report by Novaya Gazeta, some of the deaths may be connected to large scale accounting fraud by Gazprom executives, who may have funneled money to a network of businesses owned by friends and family members with ties to the FSB and Russian military.[13]

Suspicious deaths

2022

Name Age at death Position Date of death Count of deaths Place body was discovered Circumstances
January
Leonid Shulman 60 Director of Transport of Gazprom[14][5][4] 30 January 2022 1 Russia Bathroom of a residence in Leningrad Oblast[4] Suicide note found next to his body.[4]
February
Igor Nosov 43 CEO of the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (KRDV) and former Deputy governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast 8 February 2022 1 Russia Moscow Reportedly suffered a stroke.[15]
Alexander Tyulakov 61 Deputy General Director of the Unified Settlement Center of Gazprom[14][5][4] 25 February 2022 1 Russia Garage of a residence in Saint Petersburg[4] Suicide note found on his body.[4]
Mikhail Watford 66 Businessman[14][16][5][4] 28 February 2022 1 United Kingdom Garage of a residence in Surrey, England[4] British authorities have not found evidence of a crime.[4]
March
Vasily Melnikov 43 CEO and owner of Medstorm[14][5][4] 23 March 2022 4 Russia Apartment in Nizhny Novgorod[4] Wife and two sons found dead beside him.[4]
April
Vladislav Avayev 51 Former Vice President of Gazprombank[14][5][17] 18 April 2022 3 Russia Apartment in Moscow[4] Wife and 13-year-old daughter found dead beside him.[4]
Sergey Protosenya 55 Former Deputy Chairman of Novatek.[14][5][17][4] 19 April 2022 3 Spain Garden of a residence in Lloret de Mar, Spain[4] Hanged from a handrail;[18] wife and daughter found dead in their beds with blunt axe wounds[18] and stab wounds.[4]
May
Andrei Krukovsky 37 General Director of the Estosadok Krasnaya Polyana, a ski resort owned by Gazprom[5][17] 1 May 2022 1 Russia Below a cliff near the Achipse Fortress [ru] in Sochi[5][17] Reportedly fell off a cliff while hiking to Achipse Fortress [ru].[17]
Alexander Subbotin 43[19] Board member of Lukoil[20][5] 8 May 2022 1 Russia Basement of a Jamaican shaman's residence in Moscow[4] Reportedly died from a drug-induced heart attack during a shamanic ritual, though critics allege toad poison.[4]
July
Yuri Voronov 61 CEO of Astra Shipping, a subcontractor of Gazprom[5] 4 July 2022 1 Russia Swimming pool of a residence in Leningrad Oblast[5] Gunshot wounds to the head, pistol found next to his body.[5]
August
Dan Rapoport 52 Businessman[21] 14 August 2022 1 United States 2400 M Street NW, Washington, D.C., United States Found in the street after an apparent fall from his high rise apartment building.[21]
September
Ravil Maganov 67 Chair of Lukoil[5] 1 September 2022 1 Russia Below a window of the Kremlin Hospital, Moscow[22] Reportedly hospitalised for heart problems and depression, then "fell out of a window".[22][23]
Ivan Pechorin 39 Director of Aviation of the Russian Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (KRDV) 10 September 2022[24][25] 1 Russia On a beach in Beregovoy, Amur Oblast Drowned at Cape Ignatyev, Vladivostok; body found washed up in Beregovoy two days later;[25] allegedly fell from his boat.[26]
Vladimir Sungorkin [ru] 68 Editor-in-chief of Komsomolskaya Pravda 14 September 2022[27] 1 Russia Roshchino [ru], Khabarovsky District, Khabarovsk Krai Reportedly suffered a stroke and suffocated while on the way to lunch,[27] his deputy would die a year later.[28]
Anatoly Gerashchenko [ru] 72 Former Head of the Moscow Aviation Institute 21 September 2022[29][30] 1 Russia Stairway within the Moscow Aviation Institute[29][30] Reportedly fell down a flight of stairs inside the institute.[29][30]
Pavel Pchelnikov 52 Director of Digital Logistics, a Russian Railways subsidiary[31][32] 28 September 2022[32] 1 Russia On the balcony of an apartment in Moscow[31][32] Allegedly shot himself on the balcony of his apartment.[31][32]
October
Nikolay Petrunin 46 Deputy of the State Duma 12 October 2022 1 Russia Unnamed hospital in Moscow Alleged complications of COVID-19.[33][34]
November
Colonel Vadim Boyko 44 Deputy head of the Makarov Pacific Higher Naval School, involved in mobilization efforts 16 November 2022 1 Russia Office at Makarov Pacific Higher Naval School, Vladivostok Reportedly died by suicide after shooting himself in the chest five times.[35][36]
Vyacheslav Taran 53 Co-founder of Libertex, a cryptocurrency and foreign exchange market company 25 November 2022[37] 1 France Villefranche-sur-Mer, French Riviera, France Died in helicopter crash after taking off from Switzerland.[38]
Vladimir Makei Belarus 64 Foreign Minister of Belarus (2012–2022) 26 November 2022 1 BelarusUnknown, likely Minsk, Belarus Reported to have died four days after returning from a Collective Security Treaty Organization summit in Armenia accompanying representatives of Vladimir Putin.[39] He was said by his friends to have been "painfully upset" by the collapse of the course he was leading.[40]
December
Grigory Kochenov 41 Creative Director of Agima, an IT company 7 December 2022 1 Russia Volodarsky Street, Nizhny Novgorod Reportedly fell to his death from his balcony while officials from the Investigative Committee executed a search warrant for his apartment.[41]
Dmitriy Zelenov 50 Co-founder of Donstroy, a construction company 9 December 2022 1 France Antibes, French Riviera, France Reportedly felt ill and fell over a railing and hit his head, later died in hospital without regaining consciousness.[42][43]
Vladimir Bidenov 61 Business associate and travel companion of Pavel Antov 22 December 2022 1 India Hotel Sai International, Rayagada, Odisha, India Died of heart problems; two days later his close companion, Pavel Antov, also died at the same hotel under suspicious circumstances.[44][45]
Alexander Buzakov [ru] 66 Director General of the Admiralty Shipyards 24 December 2022 1 Russia Saint Petersburg Died suddenly the day after he attended the float-out ceremony of the new Lada class submarine

Velikie Luki [ru]. No explanation was given on the cause of death.[46]

Pavel Antov 65 Founder of Vladmirsky Standart, a meat processing company, and deputy (member) of the Legislative Assembly of Vladimir Oblast 1 India Below a window of Hotel Sai International, Rayagada, Odisha, India Fell out of window from Hotel Sai International;[47] another Russian colleague, Vladimir Bidenov, died in the same hotel two days prior.[48][49]
Alexei Maslov 69 Former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces and special representative of Uralvagonzavod.[50][51] 1 Russia Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital, Moscow[citation needed] Died "unexpectedly" in a military hospital, no cause given.[50]
Vladimir Nesterov 73 Engineer who was general director of the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center 28 December 2022[52] 1 Unknown

2023

Name Age at death Position Date of death Count of deaths Place body was discovered Circumstances
January
Magomed Abdulaev 61 Former Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Dagestan [ru] 5 January 2023 1 Russia Makhachkala, Dagestan Died at a hospital after being hit by a car while crossing a street.[53]
Dmitry Pavochka 49 Former manager of Roscosmos, Sukhoi, Lukoil, Bank Menatep and Russdragmet, while presently or formerly involved with many others. 26 January 2023 1 Russia 17th floor of a building on Leningradsky Avenue, Moscow Burned alive after falling asleep with a lit cigarette.[54]
February
Vladimir Makarov 72 Former police general in charge of cracking down on anti-war protesters. 13 February 2023 1 Russia At his suburban home northwest of Moscow State-run TASS news agency reported him found dead, in an apparent suicide, following his dismissal by President Vladimir Putin.[55][56]
Marina Yankina 58 Head of the financial support department of the Ministry of Defence for the Western Military District. 16 February 2023 1 Russia House on Zamshina Street, St. Petersburg Found dead after falling from a window on the 16th-floor of a high-rise building.[57][58][59]
Viatcheslav Rovneiko 59 Oil magnate, co-founder of Urals Energy, co-owner of Belgian oil company Nafta (B) NV, director of Interregional Fuel Union; ex-KGB spy. 22 February 2023 1 Russia Unspecified gated village near Moscow Found unconscious in his house; subsequent medical help could not save his life.[60][61]
April
Igor Shkurko 49 Deputy director of Yakutskenergo [ru]. 4 April 2023 1 Russia Pre-trial detention center in Yakutsk Found dead in his cell; allegedly suicide.[62]
May
Pyotr Kucherenko 46 State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation 20 May 2023 1 Russia Mineralnye Vody Airport, Stavropol Krai Died after falling ill on board a flight from Cuba to Russia.[63][64][65]
June
Yuri Demin 62 Former head of the State Inspectorate for Road Safety for the Sverdlovsk Oblast 4 June 2023 1 Russia Sysert, Sverdlovsk Oblast Found dead after falling from the second floor of his dacha during construction work.[66]
Artyom Bartenev 42 Federal Judge of the Kirovsky District Court 8 June 2023 1 Russia Underneath his apartment in Kazan, Tatarstan Found dead after falling 12 stories from his apartment window.[67][68]
Grigory Klinishov 92 Physicist and co-creator of the Soviet hydrogen bomb RDS-37. 17 June 2023 1 Russia Inside his apartment in Moscow Found dead in his apartment from an apparent suicide, leaving a note.[69][70]
Kristina Baikova 28 Vice-president of Loko-Bank [ru], head of department for work with corporate clients. 24 June 2023 1 Russia Underneath her apartment in Khodynsky Boulevard, Moscow Fell off her apartment at the 11th floor; circumstances of the incident have not yet been clarified.[71]
July
Andrei Fomin 57 Prosecutor of Chuvashia (since 2020) 1 July 2023 1 Russia In the Volga river near Cheboksary Fell ill while swimming in the Volga river and drowned.[72][73]
Aleksey Avramenko 46 Minister of Transport and Communications [be] of Belarus (since 2019) 4 July 2023 1 Unknown Died suddenly.[74][75]
Alexander Nikolayev 72 Worked for Rosatom since 2016. Former diplomat. 2003–2008 Russian Consul-General in Simferopol, Crimea. July 2023 1 Russia Konakovo, Tver Oblast Beaten up near his home and died three weeks later.[76]
Natalia Bochkareva 44 Daughter of former Governor of Penza Oblast Vasily Bochkarev. Managed her family's lumber-processing and bakery businesses 14 July 2023 1 Russia Moscow Found dead inside her apartment.[77]
Anton Cherepennikov 40 Billionaire owner and head of state-affiliated company Citadel specializing in digital wiretapping equipment and telecommunications monitoring technology, sanctioned by the US in February 2023[78] 22 July 2023 1 Russia Moscow Found dead in his office.[79]
August
Gennady Lopyrev 69 Former lieutenant-general in the FSO and overseer of various construction projects, including Putin's palace at Gelendzhik, near Sochi. Imprisoned in the IK-3 prison in 2017 for taking bribes, charges he denied in 2016.[80] 16 August 2023 1 Russia IK-3 prison colony, Ryazan Oblast Died of leukemia two days after diagnosis. News agencies reported no previous signs of the illness.[80]
Yevgeny Prigozhin 62 Russian oligarch, mercenary, Wagner Group co-founder and leader, and former close confidant of Russian president Vladimir Putin until he launched a brief rebellion on 23 June 2023, exactly two months prior. 23 August 2023 10 Russia Kuzhenkino, Bologovsky District, Tver Oblast

An Embraer Legacy 600 business jet with registration number RA-02795 crashed during a regular high-altitude flight from Moscow to Saint Petersburg.[81][82] Prigozhin, Utkin, and Chekalov were killed along with two Wagner veterans, two bodyguards, and the three flight staff.[83] According to Wagner Group, the plane was shot down by air defenses,[84] however according to the US government and aviation experts, the plane was downed by a bomb onboard or other sabotage.[85][86][87][88][89][84]

Dmitry Utkin 53 Former special forces officer in the GRU, co-founder of Wagner Group, recipient of four Orders of Courage of Russia.
Valery Chekalov 47 Russian Navy veteran, Wagner Group's head of security and foreign logistics that managed several front companies to coordinate activities in Libya and Syria.
October
Vladimir Nekrasov 66 Chairman of Lukoil October 1 Died of acute heart failure.[90]
November
Vladimir Sviridov 68 Former lieutenant-general of the 6th Air and Air Defence Forces Army, recipient of Order of the Red Star. November 2023 2 Russia Andzhievsky, Stavropol Krai Found dead at home with his wife.[91][92]
December
Anna Tsavera 35 Deputy editor-in-chief of Komsomolskaya Pravda "early" December 1 Russia Moscow Found dead in her apartment, her boss Vladimir Sungorkin died suddenly the year prior.[93][94]
Evgeny Postrigan 50 Chief accountant at sanctioned Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev December 2023 1 Russia Zheleznogorsk, Siberia Found dead at the garage of his property, cause of death asphyxiation.[95]
Vladimir Egorov 46 Politician and oil businessesman in Tobolsk. 27 December 2023 1 RussiaTobolsk, Tyumen Oblast Found dead in the yard of his home from suspected three-story fall from building.[96]

2024

Name Age at death Position Date of death Count of deaths Place body was discovered Circumstances
January
Zoya Konovalova 48 Editor-in-chief of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Kuban 5 January 2024 2 Russia Krasnodar Krai Died alongside her ex-husband in a suspected poisoning incident.[97]
February
Ivan Sechin 35 Employee of Rosneft. Son and heir apparent of Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin 5 February 2024 1 Russia Moscow Complained of kidney pain at his home mansion overnight and died within hours after ambulances failed to arrive in time, due to the security service providing the wrong address. Cause of death officially diagnosed as a blood clot. His father, Igor Sechin, blamed the Rosneft security service. The Daily Beast called it "bizarre circumstances".[98]
Andrey Morozov 44 Military blogger and war correspondent, former military combatant 21 February 2024 1 After posting about Russian casualties in the Battle of Avdiivka to his Telegram channel, Morozov deleted the post, claiming to be under orders by military command. The next day, he posted a suicide note blaming Vladimir Solovyov and killed himself by firearm.[99]
March
Vitaly Robertus 53 Vice president of Lukoil 13 March 2024 1 Russia Moscow Reportedly committed suicide. He was found hanged in his Moscow office on 13 March 2024.[100][101][102]
May
Aleksandr Surikov 68 Ambassador to Mozambique 11 May 2024 1 Mozambique Maputo Found dead at his home. Russian authorities denied a request for an autopsy from Maputo Central Hospital. An unsubstantiated report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via TASS listed the preliminary cause of death as a stroke.[103][104]
June
Natalia Larina 50 Judge 5 June 2024 1 Russia Moscow Found dead after falling from her apartment in a high-rise building in Moscow 2024.[105]
Dzianis Sidarenka Belarus 48 Ambassador to Germany 24 June 2024 1 Belarus Minsk Found dead after falling out of a window after interrogation, suspected suicide.[106]
July
Valentina Bondarenko 82 Economist 23 July 2024 1 Russia Moscow Found dead after falling out of the window of her Moscow-area apartment building.[107]
Georgy Chibisov 44 Marketing Director of the Moscow Exchange 27 July 2024 1 Russia Moskva river near Moscow Found drowned in the river after falling off of a cruise ship while trying to use its diving platform alone.[108]
October
Mikhail Rogachev 64 Former vice president of Yukos, former executive director of ONEXIM Group, former deputy general director of Norilsk Nickel 20 October 2024 1 Russia Moscow Found dead after falling out of the window of his Moscow-area apartment building.[109]
November
Alexei Zimin 52 TV Chef and restaurant owner 13 November 2024 1 Serbia Belgrade Found dead in his hotel room. Zimin had previously criticised Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He spent his final years exiled in the UK.[110]
Vladimir Shklyarov 39 Ballet dancer 16 November 2024 1 Russia St. Petersburg Fell from the fifth floor of his apartment building, reportedly trying to escape from his apartment. In 2022, he had strongly criticized Putin's war in Ukraine in a social media post.[111]

See also

Assassinations and assassination attempts

References

  1. ^ "A Wave of Mystery Suicides of Russian Gazprom Executives". Warsaw Institute. 24 April 2022. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  2. ^ Rahman, Khaleda (27 April 2022). "Russian oligarch deaths were not suicide, says gas exec who fled country". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  3. ^ Deutsche, Welle. "Mysterious series of deaths among Russian oligarchs | DW | 7 May 2022". DW.COM. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Iris de Graaf (3 June 2022). "Mysterieuze reeks 'zelfmoorden' onder Russische oligarchen" [Mysterious series of 'suicides' among Russian oligarchs]. NOS.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022. ...een grimmige reeks aan Russische miljardairs, velen uit de olie- en gassector, die onder ongebruikelijke omstandigheden dood zijn aangetroffen sinds begin dit jaar. Het begon op 30 januari, toen de 60-jarige Leonid Sjoelman, hoofd transport van de Russische energiegigant Gazprom, dood werd aangetroffen in de badkamer van zijn buitenhuis in de regio Leningrad. Naast zijn lichaam lag een afscheidsbrief.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Yet another Russian tycoon found dead under mysterious circumstances. Found in the pool at home". CNN Portugal (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  6. ^ a b Godfrey, Elaine (29 December 2022). "Sudden Russian Death Syndrome". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Sudden fatalities and falling from windows: The high-profile suspicious Russian deaths since the invasion of Ukraine". 30 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e Cameron Peters (14 October 2022). "Russian businessmen keep dying. No one knows why. Three theories for a mysterious string of deaths in Putin's Russia". Vox. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Former Gazprombank executive Igor Volobuev joins the Freedom to Russia Legion within the Ukrainian Armed Forces". Novaya Gazeta. 11 June 2022. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  10. ^ "'I could not be part of this crime': the Russians fighting for Ukraine". The Guardian. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Вице-президент "Газпромбанка" Игорь Волобуев уехал в Украину, собрался вступить в тероборону и назвал смерть топ-менеджера Аваева убийством" [Igor Volobuyev, Vice-President of Gazprombank, left for Ukraine, was about to join the defence and called the death of top manager Avayev a murder]. The Insider (in Russian). 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  12. ^ Hawley, Samantha; Duxfield, Flint (3 October 2022). "Russia's millionaires dying in 'epidemic of murder' to fund Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, says campaigner". ABC News. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  13. ^ Alisa Kashperskaya, Ilya Shumanov (9 March 2023). "Gazprom: Russia's state corruption giant". Novaya Gazeta. Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "At least five Russian businessmen have died by apparent suicide in just three months". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  15. ^ "A Kremlin ally died falling down the stairs, report says — the latest in a series of unexplained deaths among prominent Russians". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Mikhail Watford: Ukrainian oligarch's death investigated by Surrey Police". BBC. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  17. ^ a b c d e "The death of the Russian oligarchs". CNN Türk (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  18. ^ a b Sánchez, Guillem (28 April 2022). "La conexión del crimen de Lloret de Mar con Rusia" [The connection of the crime of Lloret de Mar with Russia]. elperiodico (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022. Sergey se había colgado de una barandilla exterior. [...] Los agentes creen que primero golpeó con el dorso del hacha en la cabeza de las víctimas y, una vez inconscientes, las mató con un cuchillo. [Sergey had hung from an outside railing. [...] The agents believe that he first struck the victims' heads with the back of the axe and, once unconscious, killed them with a kknif.]
  19. ^ "Создатель Forex Club Вячеслав Таран погиб при крушении вертолета в Монако" [Forex Club founder Vyacheslav Taran died in a helicopter crash in Monaco]. 28 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  20. ^ ""Toad poison" hangover treatment reportedly kills Russian oil executive at the house of a "shaman" near Moscow". CBS News. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  21. ^ a b Schaffer, Michael (26 August 2022). "A Putin Critic Fell from a Building in Washington. Was It Really a Suicide?". Politico. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Topman Russisch gas- en oliebedrijf Lukoil komt om het leven 'na val uit raam'" [Top man of Russian gas and oil company Lukoil dies 'after falling from a window']. NOS.nl (in Dutch). 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  23. ^ Kirby, Paul (1 September 2022). "Ravil Maganov: Russian Lukoil chief dies in 'fall from hospital window'". BBC. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Mysterious death of Ivan Pechorin, Vladimir Putin's top energy executive". EuroWeekly News. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  25. ^ a b Pavlova, Uliana (14 September 2022). "Russian businessman's body found in latest mysterious death | CNN Business". CNN. Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Putin ally falls into the sea, adding to list of mysterious deaths suffered by Russian energy bosses". Business Insider. 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  27. ^ a b Ibrahim, Noor (14 September 2022). "Another Putin Ally Dead After 'Suffocating' on Business Trip". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022 – via Yahoo! News.
  28. ^ Ibrahim, Noor (14 September 2022). "Another Putin Ally Dead After 'Suffocating' on Business Trip". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  29. ^ a b c Manning, Joshua (21 September 2022). "Former rector of Moscow Aviation Institute dies after "falling down flight of stairs"". EuroWeekly News. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  30. ^ a b c Ladden-Hall, Dan (21 September 2022). "Ex-Putin Ally Plunges to His Death 'From a Great Height' at Moscow Aviation Institute". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  31. ^ a b c "У Москві застрелився топменеджер дочірньої фірми "Російських залізниць" Павло Пчельников" [Pavlo Pchelnikov, the top manager of the Russian Railways subsidiary, shot himself in Moscow]. Судово-юридична газета (in Ukrainian). 29 September 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  32. ^ a b c d Helen Bourdain (28 September 2022). "На росії раптово загинув топ-менеджер РЖД Пчельніков: подробиці" [Top manager of Russian Railways Pchelnikov died in Russia]. StopCor (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  33. ^ Roscoe, Matthew (12 October 2022). "Russia's State Duma Deputy Nikolai Petrunin dies suddenly aged 46". Euro Weekly News. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  34. ^ Liesenborghs, Gilles (14 October 2022). "Covid-complicaties of toch doelgericht? 'Wéér een steenrijke Poetin-vertrouweling gestorven' – Buitenland – Telegraaf.nl". Telegraaf (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  35. ^ Reporter, Isabel van Brugen News (29 November 2022). "Widow of Russian colonel found dead writes angry letter to Putin". Newsweek. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  36. ^ Times, The Moscow (29 November 2022). "Widow Claims Russian Officer Killed Himself Due to Mobilization Pressure". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  37. ^ "Создатель Forex Club Вячеслав Таран погиб при крушении вертолета в Монако" [Forex Club founder Vyacheslav Taran died in a helicopter crash in Monaco]. 28 November 2022. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  38. ^ "Russian cryptocurrency billionaire killed in helicopter crash". NY Post. 29 November 2022. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  39. ^ "Імаверная прычына смерці Уладзіміра Макея — суіцыд". Nasha Niva (in Belarusian). 19 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  40. ^ "Belarusian foreign minister died by suicide after meeting Putin's officials: report". MSN. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  41. ^ Pierini, Simone (9 December 2022). "Direttore creativo precipita e muore in Russia durante una perquisizione in casa. "False accuse di pedofilia, era contro la guerra"" [Creative director crashes and dies in Russia during a house search. "False accusations of pedophilia, he was against the war"]. Il Gazzettino (in Italian). Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  42. ^ "Baza: Бывший миллиардер Дмитрий Зеленов скончался во Франции" [Baza: Former billionaire Dmitry Zelenov dies in France] (in Russian). Vechernyaya Moskva. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  43. ^ McDougall, AJ; Houghtaling, Ellie Quinlan (18 December 2022). "Another Russian Oligarch, Dmitry Zelenov, Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances". Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  44. ^ "Two Russian men's deaths at Odisha hotel spark mystery, speculation". India Today. 27 December 2022. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  45. ^ "Indian police probe deaths of Russian lawmaker Pavel Antov and companion Vladimir Bidenov". South China Morning Post. Agence France-Presse. 27 December 2022. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  46. ^ "Russian Admiralty Shipyards head Alexander Buzakov dies — corporation". TASS. 24 December 2022. Archived from the original on 24 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  47. ^ "Vice-President of "Vladmirsky Standart" company and MP of Vladimir legislative assembly Pavel Antov has died after falling out of the window of hotel in Rayagada, Odisha, India Rayagada,Odisha". Map of Latest News and incidents from Russia in English - russia.liveuamap.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  48. ^ Parker, Clarire; Ebel, Francesca (27 December 2022). "Russian sausage tycoon dies after falling from hotel in India". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  49. ^ Dias, Avani; Patidar, Som (28 December 2022). "Indian police launch criminal investigation into mysterious death of Russian oligarch". ABC News Australia. Archived from the original on 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  50. ^ a b Quinn, Allison (29 December 2022). "Second Russian Defense Sector Bigwig Dies in Two Days". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  51. ^ McFall, Caitlin (28 December 2022). "Second sudden death of top official reported in Russia's military supply chain in less than a week". Fox News. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  52. ^ "Mysteriöse Todesfälle: Vier hochrangige Russen seit Weihnachten gestorben". www.fr.de (in German). 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  53. ^ "В Махачкале после наезда автомобиля погиб экс-председатель правительства Дагестана" [Former Prime Minister of Dagestan dies after being hit by a car in Makhachkala]. TASS (in Russian). 5 January 2023. Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  54. ^ Roscoe, Matthew (26 January 2023). "Former Russian Roscosmos manager burned alive in mystery fire at Moscow apartment". Euro Weekly News. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  55. ^ "Sacked Russian Police General Found Dead in Apparent Suicide". The Moscow Times. 14 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  56. ^ Nianias, Helen (15 February 2023). "Russian Police Chief Found Dead at Home Weeks After Putin Fired Him". Vice News. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  57. ^ "Top Putin defence official falls to her death". news.com.au. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  58. ^ Musumeci, Natalie (16 February 2023). "A top Russian military official is dead after falling out of a 16th-floor window, the latest in a string of untimely deaths". Insider. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  59. ^ "Russian official falls from 16th-floor window in another suspicious death". The Jerusalem Post. 17 February 2023. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  60. ^ Stewart, Will (24 January 2023). "Ex-KGB spy found dead in mysterious circumstances in Moscow". Euro Weekly News. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  61. ^ "Ex-partner of Yeltsin's son-in-law businessman Vyacheslav Rovneiko was found dead in the Moscow region. This is the eighth death of top managers". Russian Free Press. 23 January 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  62. ^ Naylor, Aliide (6 April 2023). "Yakutskenergo energy boss found dead in Siberian jail cell". The Times. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  63. ^ "State Secretary - Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Pyotr Alexandrovich Kucherenko died". Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  64. ^ Kottasová, Ivana (23 May 2023). "Death of Russian minister on return from Cuba is latest unexplained incident involving Moscow's elites". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  65. ^ Champion, Matthew (23 May 2023). "Russia Official Dies After Falling Ill on Flight From Cuba". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  66. ^ "Another Russian Official Mysteriously Falls From Window to His Death". Newsweek. 8 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  67. ^ "Another Russian Official Mysteriously Falls From Window to His Death". Newsweek. 8 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  68. ^ "The judge of the Kirov court of Kazan died in a fall from the 12th floor". 8 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  69. ^ "Russia thermonuclear bomb scientist dies, Putin boosts nuke force". Aljazeera. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  70. ^ "Создатель первой термоядерной бомбы покончил с собой в Москве" (in Russian). Regnum. 21 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  71. ^ "Кто Кристина Байкова и как погибла" (in Russian). Kliker. 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  72. ^ "Источник: прокурор Чувашии Андрей Фомин умер во время заплыва по Волге". RIA Novosti (in Russian). 1 July 2023. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  73. ^ "Chuvash Republic prosecutor dies while swimming across Volga". Meduza. 1 July 2023. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  74. ^ "Умер министр транспорта и коммуникаций Беларуси Алексей Авраменко" [Minister of Transport and Communications of Belarus Aleksey Avramenko dies]. BelTA (in Russian). 4 July 2023. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  75. ^ Fornusek, Martin (4 July 2023). "Belarusian Transport Minister dies at 46". The Kyiv Independent. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  76. ^ "Russian diplomat found 'bludgeoned to death' is latest Putin goon to suffer mysterious end". 13 July 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  77. ^ "Tajemnicza śmierć córki byłego rosyjskiego gubernatora- WP Wiadomosci". wiadomosci.wp.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  78. ^ Krolik, Aaron; Mozur, Paul; Satariano, Adam (3 July 2023). "Cracking Down on Dissent, Russia Seeds a Surveillance Supply Chain". www.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  79. ^ "U.S.-Sanctioned Russian Millionaire Found Dead In His Office". www.rferl.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  80. ^ a b Kilner, James (18 August 2023). "Russian general who knew 'secrets' of Putin's palace dies suddenly in prison". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  81. ^ "Yevgeny Prigozhin was passenger on crashed plane, Russian officials say". Financial Times. 23 August 2023. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  82. ^ "Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin 'on passenger list'". Sky News. 23 August 2023. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  83. ^ "Passenger plane crashes in Russia, Wagner chief Prigozhin possibly on board". Novaya Gazeta Europe. 23 August 2023. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  84. ^ a b "Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin feared dead after Russia plane crash". BBC News. 23 August 2023. Archived from the original on 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023. None of this, of course, is proof that Prigozhin and his entourage were deliberately targeted. But given the circumstances any claims that his demise, if confirmed, was an accident will see a lot of eyebrows raised.
  85. ^ Porter, Justin (24 August 2023). "Friday Briefing: U.S. Believes Prigozhin Was Killed". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  86. ^ Masih, Niha (24 August 2023). "Prigozhin most likely dead, and an explosion may have downed his plane, U.S. officials say". The Washington Post. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  87. ^ Smith, Benedict (23 August 2023). "Yevgeny Prigozhin killed in plane crash near Moscow says Russialive updates". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  88. ^ "Wagner Chief Prigozhin Among 10 Dead In Russia Jet Crash". I24news. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  89. ^ "Wagner Group chief among passengers on crashed plane near Moscow". The Jerusalem Post. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  90. ^ Soldatkin, Vladimir (24 October 2023). "Chairman of Russia's oil major Lukoil dies suddenly aged 66". Reuters. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  91. ^ van Brugen, Isabel (16 November 2023). "Russia's Former Top Air Defense Commander Dies Mysteriously". Newsweek. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  92. ^ Quinn, Alison (16 November 2023). "Russian General Who Lambasted Armed Forces Under Putin Suffers Mystery Death". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  93. ^ "Pro-Putin politician found dead after mystery 'fall from a window'". The Independent. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  94. ^ Stavrou, Athena (13 December 2022). "Deputy editor of Putin's favourite newspaper 'found dead just one year after boss'". The Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  95. ^ "Russian satellite company boss who 'knew state secrets' found dead". 18 December 2023.
  96. ^ van Brugen, Isabel (28 December 2023). "Putin Ally Found Dead After Falling From Third Floor Window: Reports". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  97. ^ "Mystery as top Putin propagandist found dead after suspected "poisoning"". Newsweek. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  98. ^ Quinn, Allison (20 February 2024). "Putin Ally's Son Drops Dead at 35 in Bizarre Circumstances". The Daily Beast – via Yahoo! News.
  99. ^ "Death of Andrey Morozov, a Russian blogger who announced soldier deaths in Ukraine". 23 February 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  100. ^ Quinn, Allison (13 March 2024). "Fourth Exec at Russian Oil Giant Lukoil Dies 'Suddenly'". The Daily Beast.
  101. ^ "Vice President of Russian energy company dies 'suddenly' of suicide". Euronews. 14 March 2024.
  102. ^ van Brugen, Isabel (14 March 2024). "Putin Ally Found 'Hanged' in Own Office: Reports". Newsweek.
  103. ^ Bridger, Bianca (12 May 2024). "Russian Ambassador to Mozambique Found Dead at his Maputo Home | Atlas News". Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  104. ^ Mwambia, Purity (21 May 2024). "'Sudden Russian death syndrome' strikes Mozambique ambassador, Russian MFA adds mystery". POLYGRAPH.info. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  105. ^ "Mystery as Russian judge dies after falling from window". Newsweek. 6 June 2024.
  106. ^ "Ex-Botschafter von Belarus überraschend verstorben". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  107. ^ "Top Russian Economist Dies After Falling out of Window". Newsweek. 24 July 2024.
  108. ^ "Top Moscow Exchange Manager Drowns in Latest Mystery Death". Newsweek. 31 July 2024.
  109. ^ "Former Russian oil executive found dead after 'fall'". The Telegraph. 20 October 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 21 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  110. ^ "Alexei Zimin: London Russian TV chef found dead in Belgrade hotel". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  111. ^ McShane, Asher (16 November 2024). "Ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov who criticised Putin's Ukraine invasion dies in fall from building in St Petersburg". LBC. Retrieved 18 November 2024.