In a shocking turn of events, two high-profile figures linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime have died within 48 hours, raising eyebrows and sparking speculation about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Anton Cherepennikov, a 40-year-old businessman with ties to Russia's security services, was found dead in his office in Moscow. Cherepennikov was the head of the country's largest IT company, ICS Holding, which was reportedly used by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) for surveillance of citizens' online activities. The preliminary cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest, but this has been met with skepticism. Vasily Polonsky, a long-time friend of Cherepennikov, expressed disbelief at the official cause of death, stating, “I do not believe [he died of] cardiac arrest."
ICS Holding was a significant beneficiary of a 2018 law that increased the scrutiny of Russia's security services over its citizens. The law allowed telecom operators to store audio recordings of all calls and text messages for six months and internet traffic for a month. The company faced international sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Cherepennikov was a long-time partner of oligarch Alisher Usmanov, who has faced international sanctions over his links with Putin. Cherepennikov served on the board of USM, as well as cellphone operators Megafon and USM Telecom, which Usmanov controls.
The second death was that of billionaire oligarch Igor Kudryakov, a former government official and wealthy businessman, who was found dead in his Moscow apartment. Kudryakov had reportedly been diagnosed with cancer.
These deaths have led to speculation and concern, with Ukrainian internal affairs adviser Anton Gerashchenko tweeting about the "mysterious death of a top-manager in Russia." The deaths follow a series of unexplained fatalities of officials and businessmen in Russia, adding to the growing unease and suspicion.
The Russian authorities have yet to provide detailed explanations for these deaths, leaving room for speculation and concern about the safety and stability of those in the upper echelons of Russian society. As investigations continue, the world watches closely for further developments in this unfolding story.