A Russian politician died in unknown circumstances after falling ill on a plane last Saturday, adding to a string of mysterious deaths among Russian elites. Pyotr Kucherenko, Russia’s 46-year-old deputy minister of science and higher education, died while returning from a trip to Cuba. The Ministry reported that Kucherenko felt unwell during the flight, and the plane had to land in Mineralnye Vody, where doctors tried to help him without success.
Although the family mentioned that his death could be due to a heart condition, an autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of his death. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had no information on the cause of Kucherenko’s death.
A journalist named Roman Super, who fled Russia shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, revealed that he had spoken with Kucherenko just days before his escape. According to Super, Kucherenko expressed concern for his safety and encouraged him to leave Russia due to the brutal state of the country. In addition, he mentioned that he was taking antidepressants and tranquilizers and felt terrible and deprived of his freedom.
It has been reported that senior Russian officials are barred from leaving their posts. In the past year, there have been a number of unexplained deaths among Russian businessmen and prominent figures, involving cases of suicide or suspicious accidents. These incidents have generated growing interest, as at least 13 high-profile Russian businessmen have died in bizarre circumstances, some of them linked to major energy companies.
These deaths have raised suspicions and speculation about possible ulterior motives behind the deaths. The Russian authorities have responded to these reports by dismissing them as hoaxes and maintaining the position that they were suicides or accidents.