We are reading about a lot of dead Russians recently. Some are attributed to natural causes, some are ‘accidents’ and some are outright assassinations. I have been tracking this phenomenon for a while now and have noticed quite an upturn in the last two years. I do not believe this is a coincidence as there has been a political upheaval in Russia over the same time.
Many of those killed were journalists or activists, professions that are little tolerated in Russia if politics are involved. In Russia as elsewhere, politics are equal to money and by money, I am talking serious money where the number contains at least two and quite often three commas.
Several non-Russians are included on the list as they became too close to some of the active measures conducted by the Russians and either got in the way or became a liability.
Missing from this list are Sergei and Yulia Skripal who have survived the recent attempt to kill them with a powerful nerve agent and Arkady Babchenko a Russian journalist harshly critical of the Kremlin. It was rumored on May 29, 2018 that he was killed, but it was a fake news story pushed out by the national police force.
Here is a list that I have aggregated from several news sources:
Yelena Gremina May 16, 2018 Founder of liberal theater Teatr.doc in Moscow that was regularly harassed by authorities, died of “heart and kidney failure” six weeks after her husband Mikhail Ugarov. She was the author of a play about Sergei Magnitsky.
Yuri Kotler May 14, 2018 Former senior member of United Russia and a former vice-president at VTB Bank, found shot in the head in his flat in Moscow after not responding to efforts to contact him for three days. Said to have committed suicide due to debt.
Oleg Belous May 8, 2018 Russia’s ambassador to Portugal, died suddenly in Lisbon.
Mikhail Abramyan April 16, 2018 Krasnodar political and environmental activist, chairman of Southern Environmental Front, died after an undiagnosed illness – friend Andrey Rudomakha, who was beaten himself last December, suspects poisoning.
Maxim Borodin April 15, 2018 Yekaterinburg journalist working for Novy Den agency who had written about the deaths of Russian Wagner contractors in Syria as a result of a US air strike on February 7. Died from his injuries after falling out of a fourth-floor window of his flat on April 13. His editor thinks it was murder.
Mikhail Ugarov April 1, 2018 Artistic director of liberal theater Teatr.doc in Moscow that was regularly harassed by authorities, died of a “heart attack” in Moscow.
Nikolai Glushkov March 12, 2018 Business partner of Boris Berezovsky, found dead in his home in south London just over a week after the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a nerve agent in Salisbury. Police said he died from compression to the neck and launched a murder inquiry.
Yelena Shishmareva February 7, 2018 Former deputy health minister of Tatarstan, found stabbed eight times in the vicinity of her neck at home while under house arrest in an embezzlement case. Investigators suggest it was a suicide.
Konstantin Sinitsin January 26, 2018 Opposition activist in St. Petersburg, beaten to death in the entrance of the building where he lived. A suspect was taken into custody and the murder was reported to have been a personal dispute.
Timofey Kurayev November 8, 2017 Head of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service in Crimea, had been investigating the mismanagement of ports, found dead in his home.
Serhiy Samarskiy November 2, 2017 City councilor in Syevyerodonetsk, Luhansk Oblast, who initiated a decision in 2015 to label Russia an aggressor country, found outside his flat with a smashed skull.
Amina Okueva October 30, 2017 Chechen fighter for Ukraine married to Adam Osmayev, who had been accused of plotting to kill Putin, fought off a previous assassination attempt, killed when their car was shot at outside Kiev.
Alexei Stroganov October 24, 2017 Moscow opposition activist, attacked with an iron bar, died after two months in a coma.
Boris Kogan October 5, 2017 Businessman who sold his condos in Trump Tower New York after the US election of 2016 and who shipped Russian military equipment as well as rockets for NASA, died suddenly at his home in Odessa from “heart problems”.
Migayas Shirinskiy August 23, 2017, Russia’s ambassador to Sudan died of an acute heart attack while swimming in his pool in the Khartoum. That's the seventh Russian diplomat to have died since November last year, in addition to an aide to a former deputy prime minister, a lawyer for a Putin-foe, and a former Russian MP. All but two died on foreign soil.
Timur Mahauri September 8, 2017 Chechen with Georgian citizenship fighting on the side of Ukraine, killed in a car bombing in the center of Kiev.
Andrey Ruskov September 8 2017 - The body of journalist was found in the Bira River in Birobidzhan, Jewish Autonomous Oblast. Ruskov worked for the Bestvideo Broadcasting Studio.
Oleg Gorchev August 31, 2017 CEO of Resorts of the North Caucasus, found dead in his flat in Moscow with a head injury.
Mukhmad Askhabov August 25, 2017 Member of the Chechen parliament, Communist, attackers shot at his car.
Ivan Skripnichenko August 23, 2017 Volunteer who guarded the people’s memorial on the Nemtsov bridge in Moscow, was punched in the nose while on the bridge on August 15 and died from his injuries after surgery.
Mirgayas Shirinsky August 23, 2017 Russian ambassador to Sudan, died at his residence in Khartoum “while swimming in the pool”, according to local police.
Anton Nossik July 9, 2017 Popular Russian-Israeli blogger and Putin critic, died of a suspected heart attack while at a dacha outside Moscow with friends.
Vladimir Shcherbakov July 5, 2017 Businessman’s “suicide” in London was reported by an acquaintance, but London police have not confirmed it. Said to have hanged himself with his crocodile skin belt. Two days beforehand Russian authorities had dropped a case of embezzlement against him, which had been led by MP Andrei Lugovoi, killer of Litvinenko.
Yuriy Voznyi June 27, 2017 Colonel in the Ukrainian Security Service, killed when car he was traveling. It exploded in Donetsk Oblast, possibly due to an IED.
Maxim Shapoval June 27, 2017 Head of reserve of Main Department of Intelligence at Ukrainian Defense Ministry, killed in a car bombing in Kiev.
Dmitri Popkov May 24, 2017 Editor-in-chief of local newspaper Ton-M in Minusinsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, who reported on police corruption, shot dead in the bathhouse.
Igor Agafonov May 17, 2017 Russian Foreign Ministry representative in Vladivostok, died in his sleep.
Peter W. Smith May 14, 2017 In 2017 he confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that he had tried in 2016 to contact computer hackers, including Russian hackers, in an attempt to obtain opposition research material to use against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Ten days after speaking to the paper, he committed suicide in a hotel room, citing ill health.
Nikolai Andrushchenko April 19, 2017 Co-founder and editor of opposition newspaper Novy Peterburg, died in St. Petersburg after being attacked leaving his office on the evening of March 9.
Vadim Tyulpanov April 4, 2017 Russian senator, “slipped in the bathhouse and hit his head” in St. Petersburg the day after the St Petersburg metro bombing.
Alexander Kharaberyush March 31, 2017 Deputy chief of Donetsk Oblast SBU counter-intelligence unit, killed in a car bomb in Mariupol, Ukraine.
Nikolai Volkov March 27, 2017 Head of Construction Department at Russia’s Interior Ministry, shot dead near his home in Moscow in suspected contract killing.
Denis Voronenkov March 23, 2017 Former Russian MP who fled to Ukraine with his wife, MP and singer Maria Maksakova in October 2016, shot dead in front of a hotel in Kiev.
Nikolai Gorokhov March 21 2017 the lawyer for Sergei Magnitsky, who was the source of reporting on Russia's largest tax fraud, fell from a fourth-story window while trying to move a bathtub. Russian authorities made that explanation with a straight face. A Russian lawyer who survived after falling from a fourth-floor balcony says his plunge was “no accident” and fears he was targeted because he found key evidence in a $230 million corruption scandal involving high-ranking state officials.
Vladimir Yevdokimov March 18, 2017 Former executive director of the Roskosmos space agency responsible for quality control, in a Moscow prison awaiting trial accused of embezzling up to 200 million rubles, found dead in his cell with stab wounds.
Yevgeny Khamaganov March 16, 2017 Opposition journalist from Buryatia who was beaten and had his neck broken in 2015, in unexplained circumstances in Ulan-Ude either after a beating or due to complications from diabetes.
Vladimir Makovich news came out March 12, 2017 Former co-chairman of the “Donetsk People’s Republic” government who read “declaration of independence” on April 7, 2014, of a mysterious illness in Donetsk.
Alex Oronov March 2, 2017 Ukrainian emigre businessman in New York who organized meeting between Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen, Felix Sater and Ukrainian MP Andriy Artemenko in January 2017 about “peace plan” for Ukraine, in New York of unknown causes.
Viktor Parshutkin February 27, 2017 Lawyer who represented Ukrainian Serhiy Lytvynov, entirely innocent man sentenced in Russia, died of unknown causes in Moscow on the second anniversary of the murder of Boris Nemtsov.
Vitaly Churkin February 20, 2017 Russia’s representative at the UN, famous for vetoing an international tribunal on MH17, died “at work” in New York.
Mikhail “Givi” Tolstykh February 8, 2017 Commander of Somalia battalion in Donbass and torturer of Ukrainian POWs, killed by an explosion in his office.
Oleg Anashenko February 4, 2017 “Luhansk People’s Republic” commander, killed in car bombing in Luhansk.
Valery Bolotov January 27, 2017 Former leader of the "Luhansk People's Republic", possibly died after drinking a poisoned cup of coffee in Moscow.
Alexander Kadakin January 25, 2017 Russian ambassador to India, died in hospital after a brief illness.
Andrei Malanin January 9, 2017 Russian consul found dead in his apartment in Athens of “natural causes”.
Oleg Erovinkin December 26, 2016 FSB general found dead in his car in Moscow, may have been source for Trump dossier.
Roman Skrylnikov December 26, 2016 Russian diplomat in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, found dead of an apparent heart attack in his apartment.
Andrei Karlov December 20, 2016 Russian ambassador to Turkey, shot by a Turk who shouted that it was revenge for Aleppo.
Petr Polshikov December 20, 2016 Chief advisor to Latin America department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, found dead in his Moscow home from a gunshot wound.
Sergei Krivov November 8, 2016 Described as “Duty Commander”, died as a result of head trauma at the Russian consulate in New York.
Vladimir Shreydler November 8, 2016 Outspoken pro-Ukrainian activist who had appeared on Russian talk shows, died of a heart attack after having been ill for some time, but still very active.
Arsen “Motorola” Pavlov October 16, 2016 Russian commander in Donbass. Blown up in a lift.
Gennady Tsyplakov September 24, 2016 Former “prime minister of the Luhansk People’s Republic”, found hanged with multiple injuries – it was suggested that he was tortured to death after “LNR” leader Ihor Plotnitsky said he had organized an attempted coup.
Yevhen Zhylin September 19, 2016 Prominent pro-Russian activist from Ukraine, shot dead in an upscale restaurant outside Moscow by a gunman disguised with a fake moustache and Panama hat.
Pavel Sheremet July 20, 2016 Belarusian-born Russian journalist and friend of Boris Nemtsov, killed in a car bombing in Kiev.
Ruslan Israpilov May 6, 2016 Former Chechen fighter shot dead at his home in Ilimtepe, Turkey.
Matthew Puncher May 2016 Polonium expert involved in Litvinenko inquiry “stabbed himself to death” at home in Oxfordshire after a trip to Russia.
Dmitry Tsilikin March 31 2016 Journalist was stabbed to death in his flat in Saint Petersburg. The suspected killer is neo-nazi Sergey Kosyrev. The murder is attributed to Tsilikin's homosexual orientation.
Colin Madsen approx. March 27, 2016 American student who had been volunteering for Greenpeace, body found eight days after he disappeared from a cabin in Siberia early in the morning.
Nikita Kamaev February 14, 2016 Former executive director of the Russian anti-doping agency who had been preparing a book, died of a "heart attack" after going out skiing.
Vyacheslav Sinev February 3, 2016 Chairman of the executive committee of the council of the Russian anti-doping agency. No cause of death given.
Alesya Malakyan January 25, 2016 Daughter of opposition activist Irina Kalmykova, who was fleeing from Russia to Ukraine to escape her trial for protesting, died of unknown causes in Moscow.
Igor Sergun January 3, 2016 A general, director of the GRU military intelligence service, died of unknown causes after being sent to Syria to negotiate with Assad.
Pavel Dryomov December 12, 2015 Prominent Cossack commander in the “Luhansk People’s Republic”, killed in a car bombing on the way home from his wedding.
Mikhail Lesin November 5, 2015 Founder of RT, found dead in the Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, D.C. The FBI says he fell from extreme drinking and had "blunt force trauma to the head" and injuries to his neck, arms, legs and torso. That must have been some fall.
Abdulwahid Edelgiriev November 1, 2015 Former Chechen fighter shot in Istanbul, two Russian hitmen arrested.
Alexei Mozgovoi May 23, 2015 Russian-backed commander in the “Luhansk People’s Republic”, killed in an ambush of his car.
Roman “Tsygan” Voznik March 26, 2015 Commander of Mirazh battalion in Donbass, former Berkut member, his car was shot in the center of Donetsk.
Boris Nemtsov February 27, 2015 Former deputy prime minister and outspoken Putin critic, shot on a bridge near the Kremlin.
Scot Young December 8, 2014 Scottish property tycoon who did business in Russia involving Boris Berezovsky, found impaled on railings in London.
Johnny Elichaoff November 12, 2014 Businessman said to have fallen off the roof of a shopping center in London. Friend of Scot Young.
Lemar Aliadinov disappeared August 2, 2014, death confirmed in October 2017 Crimean Tatar and Uzbek citizen who went missing while working on a construction site in Yalta.
Timur Kuashev July 31, 2014 Journalist and rights activist in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkar Republic, found apparently poisoned 15 km from his home after threats, but killing was dismissed as heart attack.
Valeriya Novodvorskaya July 12, 2014 Longtime Soviet dissident who had spoken out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, apparently died of toxic shock syndrome in hospital in Moscow.
Volodymyr Rybak April 17, 2014 Member of Horlivka city council, abducted and murdered by pro-Russian militia after trying to raise the Ukrainian flag on the council building. His body was found with two others with signs of torture.
Alexander Pochinok March 16, 2014 Former government minister who had warned in an interview on Dozhd TV that Crimea would cost Russia more than the war in Chechnya and the Sochi Olympics put together. He died of a "heart attack" two days before the ceremony in Moscow to formally annex Crimea.
Reshat Ametov March 15, 2014 Crimean Tatar activist abducted by three unidentified men in military uniforms on March 3 while protesting by himself in front of the Crimean Council of Ministers building in Simferopol, his body was found in a forest with signs of violence and torture.
Boris Berezovsky 23 March 2013 a Russian business oligarch, government official, engineer and mathematician. Berezovsky was found dead at his home, Titness Park, at Sunninghill, near Ascot in Berkshire, on 23 March 2013. A post-mortem examination found that his death was consistent with hanging and that there were no signs of a violent struggle
Alexander Perepilichnyy 10 November 2012, was helping Swiss prosecutors uncover a multi-million pound money laundering scheme used by corrupt Russian officials, died in mysterious circumstances outside his home in Weybridge, Surrey. The businessman collapsed while out running and it was initially believed he had suffered a heart attack. However, traces of a poison that can be found in the Gelsemium plant were later found in his stomach.
German Gorbuntsov March 2012, exiled Russian banker survived an assassination attempt as he stepped out of a taxi in East London. A hitman shot him with a silenced pistol, but he survived the attack and now lives under a 24-hour security detail. Later that year, he told The Independent that he believed his former business partners were behind the attack. The men he named claimed to be friends of Mr Putin, which, Mr Gorbuntsov claimed had slowed an investigation by Russian authorities. No one was ever caught for the shooting.
Victor Aphanasenko February 2012 editor of a newspaper that had been investigating paramilitary raids in southern Russia, died after slipping in his home.
Olga Kotovskaya November 2009, independent broadcaster fell to her death from a 14th-floor window. She had been battling for control of her station with a member of the government. Her death was also ruled a suicide.
Ivan Safronov March 2007 who was investigating the sale of Russian arms to Iran and Syria, died after falling from a fifth-floor window. It was ruled a suicide.
Gareth Williams 16 August 2010 Welsh mathematician and MI6 employee Gareth Williams was found dead and naked in a locked bag inside his south London flat. An inquest found the death was "unnatural and likely to have been criminally mediated", while a subsequent Met Police inquiry claimed it was "probably an accident".
Alexander Litvinenko 23 November 2006 who was poisoned with a cup of tea. A former FSB officer granted political asylum in Britain, Mr Litvinenko fell ill after sipping from a cup laced with radioactive polonium at a meeting in central London in.
Georgi Markov 1978, Bulgarian dissident who was poisoned with an umbrella while waiting for a bus on Waterloo Bridge. The 49-year-old said he felt a sharp sting on the back of his thigh. After developing a fever, he died four days later. An autopsy found a deadly 1.7mm-wide pellet of poisonous ricin in his skin.