Russian Business World Faces Series of 'Suspicious Deaths'... Another Mysterious Death of Anti-War Russian Energy Industry Executive

High-Ranking Russian Energy Industry Officials Die One After Another Following Ukraine War
Authorities Say "Suicide," Associates Suspect "Homicide"

Russian forces' 'Grad' multiple rocket launcher is shelling a location in Ukraine. Photo by Russian Ministry of Defense video capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] Since the beginning of this year, there have been consecutive cases of energy industry tycoons in Russia dying from extreme choices or suspicious accidents.

According to a CNN report on the 2nd (local time), at least eight energy tycoons have died since January this year, six of whom were directly related to two major Russian energy companies, Gazprom and Lukoil.

Four were from the Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom and its subsidiaries, while the other two were from Lukoil, Russia's largest private oil and gas company.

Earlier in January, Leonid Shulman, who was in charge of the transportation sector at a Gazprom investment subsidiary, was found dead at his home. At the time, he was under investigation by authorities for fraud charges, and the Russian state-owned RIA Novosti reported that a suicide note was found at the scene, with investigators treating the case as a suicide.

In February, Alexander Turakov, a senior executive at Gazprom, was found dead in his home garage. The Russian independent media outlet Novaya Gazeta reported that he ended his life by an extreme choice.

In April, Sergey Protosenya, former CEO of Novatek, Russia's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) company, was found dead with his family in Spain, and Vladislav Avayev, vice chairman of Gazprombank, was found dead with his family in Moscow.

All of them were investigated as having killed their families and then taken their own lives, or such investigations are underway, but acquaintances insist that none of them were the type to commit suicide.

There is an analysis that their deaths are related to the Russian private energy sector's opposition to the war. Despite Western sanctions blocking overseas exports and worsening financial difficulties, the government has failed to present any effective measures, leading to a rapid deterioration in management conditions.

Ultimately, the officially reported cause of death is 'suicide,' but suspicions have been raised that they were killed due to the regime's animosity because of their critical stance on the invasion of Ukraine.

A former executive of Gazprombank who recently left Russia told CNN, "Avayev was a private banker managing large funds for VIP clients," and added, "I don't believe he took his own life. It seems he learned something that put him in danger."

Gazprom, associated with these four individuals, is led by Alexey Miller, a close aide to Russian President Putin. The company leads the export of Russian natural gas to Europe and has been criticized for funding Russia's war efforts and weaponizing energy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.