The mysterious death of 9 oligarchs close to Putin
In addition to at least nine oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, some of the country's top officials have died mysteriously this year. Some of them died from luxury resorts and others fell from hospital windows. It is also claimed that many have committed suicide. All those who died unnaturally are known as oligarchs or Russian billionaires.
The death of the oligarch
According to the Russian media, at least 9 famous Russian businessmen have died mysteriously this year. All of them are said to have died by suicide or accidents. Six of them worked for Russia's state-controlled energy company. Of the six, four were associated with Russia's state-owned energy company Gazprom and one of its subsidiaries, while the other two worked for Lukowell, Russia's largest privately owned oil and gas company, CNN reported.
Sergei Protosenia
Sergei Protosenia was the former top manager of Russian energy giant Novatek. His body was recovered along with his wife and daughter at a villa in Spain on April 17. Various reports said that he was spending Easter vacation there. Catalonia police found the body of the 55-year-old tycoon hanging in a garden. His wife and daughter were found dead in bed with stab wounds. An ax and a knife are found next to Protosenia's corpse. The police claimed that Protosenia committed suicide after killing his wife and daughter or after killing the entire family it was framed as a murder-suicide. Novatek is the second largest natural gas producer in Russia.
Vladislav Avaev
On April 18, a day after Protosenia's body was found in Spain, the body of former vice president of Gazprom Bank, Vladislav Avayev, was found in his multi-million dollar Moscow home. The bodies of his wife and daughter were recovered from the same house. Their bodies were first seen by a relative of Avayev, who had been incommunicado for several days. Media reported that a pistol was found in Avayev's hand. According to the police, he committed suicide after killing his wife and 13-year-old daughter. Privately owned Gazprom Bank is Russia's third largest bank by assets.
Vasily Melnikov
On March 24, the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant reported that the body of billionaire Vasily Melnikov was recovered from his luxury apartment. He worked at Medstom Medical Company. The bodies of his wife Galina and two sons were recovered with him. All of them died of stab wounds and the knife used in the murder was found at the scene. Investigators said Melnikov committed suicide after killing his 41-year-old wife and two sons aged 10 and 4. But neighbors and relatives refuse to accept such an explanation. Melnikov's company was hit hard by Western sanctions, the media reported. Police found no signs of outside interference or a scuffle in Melnikov's apartment. The bodies of the boys were found in their room and the body of Melnikov's wife in the bedroom. Melnikov's body was found in the bathroom.
Mikhail Watford
The body of Ukrainian-born tycoon Mikhail Watford was found at his home in Surrey, UK on February 28. Born in Soviet Ukraine in 1955, Tolstoshea changed her name. He earned huge money from oil and gas business. A gardener first found her body hanging in the garage. Surrey Police say his death is not suspicious.
Alexander Taiuliakov
On February 25, the body of Aleksandr Taiuliakov, Deputy Director General of Gazprom's Unified Settlement Center for Corporate Security, was found in a cottage in St. Petersburg. His body was found hanging in the garage. Police found a note next to his body. Investigators believe the Russian tycoon committed suicide.
Leonid Shulman
In January, the body of Leonid Shulman, the top manager of Russian energy giant Gazprom, was found in the Leningrad region. Gazprom Invest said it was investigating Shulman's death. His body was found in the bathroom of a cottage. Police believe he committed suicide due to a note found next to him. According to Russian media reports, Shulman was ill at the time of his death.
Ivan Pechorin
Last September 12, Russian businessman Ivan Pechorin's body was found in Vladivostok, Russia. He is the top manager of the Corporation for the Development of the Far East and Arctic. According to Russian state media RIA Novosti, the administration of Vladivostok said a body was found near the village of Beregovo. Pechorin sank off Cape Ignatiev in Vladivostok on September 10, according to regional media reports. Earlier this year, the organization sparked public debate by speaking out against Russia's war in Ukraine. They called for compassion for the victims and an end to the conflict.
Murder or suicide?
Earlier this year, Russian oil and gas company Lukowell took a stand against Russia's war in Ukraine, CNN reported. Lookwell then called for compassion for the victims and an end to the conflict. Lukowell chairman Ravil Maganov died earlier this month after falling from a hospital window in Moscow, Russian state news agency TASS reported. The death was confirmed in a statement published on Lukewell's website. Where Maganov is said to have died later after a serious illness. But how read is not mentioned. The website statement further states, Maganov has greatly contributed to the development of not only the company but the entire Russian oil and gas sector. Earlier last May, Lukewell manager Alexander Sabbotin also died mysteriously. His body was recovered from Moscow. He went to meet a religious guru, media outlet Tas reported. The Russian police have started an investigation into the incident.
Western blockade of oligarchs
Many have expressed suspicion that Putin may be involved in the mysterious deaths of Russian billionaires, but due to his tough stance on oligarchs, many are also pointing fingers at the West. Russia's oligarchs have become the center of international debate due to the conflict between Russia, Ukraine and Western countries. The United States and its allies imposed sanctions on several Russian banks and oligarchs known to be close allies of Putin after Western countries launched an attack on Ukraine. Not only that, Italy seized the luxury yacht of a Russian tycoon in March. According to the RT report, The yacht is owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. Its price is 578 million US dollars. The European Union imposed sanctions on Russia due to Moscow's military operations in Ukraine. Many Russian tycoons as well as commercial institutions are also under the ban. Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko is also on the list. Earlier, Germany seized a yacht worth 600 million US dollars last month. It is owned by Russian tycoon Alisa Usmanov. He is also on the EU sanctions list. So it is not yet clear what is the secret of the oligarch's death. Time will tell if the oligarchs are being killed for taking a stand against Putin or the West will be responsible.
