Putin lost another close associate

 Vladimir Sangorkin, a close aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin and editor of the Russian state-run Pravda newspaper and renowned journalist, has died.

Russian news agency Interfax reported this news citing Pravdar.  The Kremlin has mourned the death of Vladimir Sangorkin, calling his departure "a great loss for Russian journalism".

 In a statement on the messaging app Telegram, Pravda said Sangorkin died "suddenly" during a business trip to Russia's primary region.

 At that time colleague Leonid Zakharov was also with him.  They were traveling to gather information for a book on the famous Russian traveler Vladimir Arseniev.

 Regarding Sangorkin's death, Zakharov said that at one stage during the tour, Sangorkin suggested that he take a rest and said that he would find a good place and have lunch.

After that he suddenly fell ill.  In Zakharov's words, "After three minutes, he began to choke."  We take him outside in the open air.  In the meantime, he became unconscious.

 Zakharov said that he was immediately taken to the doctor.  He said, 'Doctors after his initial examination said it was a stroke.  But this is a preliminary estimate.

 "Sangorkin's death is a great loss for Russian journalism," the Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday (September 14) following his death.  He has always set an example of loyalty to his profession, professional ethics.

 Canada-based media Global News reports that Sangorkin has been the editor-in-chief and editor of Pravda since 1997.  Sangorkin was one of the few Putin associates banned by Europe after the war in Ukraine broke out in February this year.

Pravda is an old Russian newspaper.  The tabloid was founded in 1925 during the Soviet era and was the mouthpiece of the Central Committee of the Komsomol, or Communist Youth League, the youth wing of the Communist Party.  The newspaper is said to be the 'very favorite newspaper' of Russian President Putin.

 A few days ago, Ivan Pechorin, a prominent Russian businessman in Russia, died mysteriously.  He was the top manager of the Corporation for the Development of the Far East and Arctic.  It was the ninth death among Russian businessmen this year.