Russian oligarchs are wealthy businessmen who amassed their wealth during the privatization of state-owned assets in the 1990s. In recent months, there have been a series of deaths of Russian oligarchs, raising questions about the potential reasons behind these deaths and their implications on the Russian economy and politics. It is important to understand the role of oligarchs in the Russian economy and the current state of Russian politics to fully comprehend the impact of these deaths.
The Role of Oligarchs in the Russian Economy
The Russian economy is heavily dependent on natural resources, particularly oil and gas. In the 1990s, the government privatized state-owned assets, allowing a small group of individuals to become extremely wealthy. These individuals, known as oligarchs, control a significant portion of the Russian economy, including energy, metals, and banking.
The impact of oligarchs on the Russian economy has been mixed. On one hand, they have invested heavily in infrastructure and helped to modernize the economy. On the other hand, their control over key industries has led to monopolies and corruption. The relationship between oligarchs and the government is complex, with many oligarchs having close ties to the Kremlin.
The Current State of Russian Politics
The Russian political system is dominated by President Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party. Putin has been in power since 2000 and has consolidated his control over the government and media. In recent years, there has been a crackdown on opposition and dissent, with many opposition leaders and journalists being imprisoned or forced into exile.
In 2020, Putin pushed through constitutional changes that allow him to remain in power until 2036. These changes also give him greater control over the judiciary and the ability to appoint key government officials.
How Many Russian Oligarchs Have Died in 2022?
Here is a list of all Russian oligarchs who have died in 2022 .
Deaths Of Russian Olgarchs in 2022
| Name | Age | Position | Date | Count of deaths | Place body was discovered | Circumstances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | ||||||
| Leonid Shulman | 60 | Director of Transport of Gazprom | 30 January 2022 | 1 | Bathroom of a residence in Leningrad Oblast | Suicide note found next to his body |
| February | ||||||
| Igor Nosov | 43 | CEO of the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (KRDV) and former Deputy governor of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast | 8 February 2022 | 1 | Moscow | Reportedly suffered a stroke |
| Alexander Tyulakov | 61 | Deputy General Director of the Unified Settlement Center of Gazprom | 25 February 2022 | 1 | Garage of a residence in Saint Petersburg | Suicide note found on his body |
| Mikhail Watford | 66 | Businessman | 28 February 2022 | 1 | Garage of a residence in Surrey, England | British authorities have not found evidence of a crime |
| March | ||||||
| Vasily Melnikov | 43 | CEO and owner of Medstorm | 23 March 2022 | 4 | Apartment in Nizhny Novgorod | Wife and two sons found dead beside him |
| April | ||||||
| Vladislav Avayev | 51 | First Vice President of Gazprombank | 18 April 2022 | 3 | Apartment in Moscow | Wife and 13-year-old daughter found dead beside him |
| Sergey Protosenya | 55 | Former Deputy Chairman of Novatek. | 19 April 2022 | 3 | Garden of a residence in Lloret de Mar, Spain | Hanged from a handrail; wife and daughter found dead in their beds with blunt axe wounds and stab wounds |
| May | ||||||
| Andrei Krukovsky | 37 | General Director of the Estosadok Krasnaya Polyana, a ski resort owned by Gazprom[ | 1 May 2022 | 1 | Below a cliff near the Achipse Fortress [ru] in Sochi | Reportedly fell off a cliff while hiking to Achipse Fortress |
| Alexander Subbotin | 43 | Board member of Lukoil | 8 May 2022 | 1 | Basement of a Jamaican shaman’s residence in Moscow | Reportedly died from a drug-induced heart attack during a shamanic ritual, though critics allege toad poison |
| July | ||||||
| Yuri Voronov | 61 | CEO of Astra Shipping, a subcontractor of Gazprom | 4 July 2022 | 1 | Swimming pool of a residence in Leningrad Oblast | Gunshot wounds to the head, pistol found next to his body |
| August | ||||||
| Dan Rapoport | 52 | Businessman | 14 August 2022 | 1 | 2400 M Street NW, Washington, D.C., United States | Found in the street after an apparent fall from his high rise apartment building |
| September | ||||||
| Ravil Maganov | 67 | Chair of Lukoil | 1 September 2022 | 1 | Below a window of the Kremlin Hospital, Moscow | Reportedly hospitalised for heart problems and depression, then “fell out of a window” |
| Ivan Pechorin | 39 | Director of Aviation of the Russian Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (KRDV) | 10 September 2022 | 1 | On a beach in Beregovoy, Amur Oblast | Drowned at Cape Ignatyev, Vladivostok; body found washed up in Beregovoy two days later; allegedly fell from his boat |
| Vladimir Sungorkin | 68 | Editor-in-chief of Komsomolskaya Pravda | 14 September 2022 | 1 | Roshchino , Khabarovsky District, Khabarovsk Krai | Reportedly suffered a stroke and suffocated while on the way to lunch |
| Anatoly Gerashchenko | 72 | Former Head of the Moscow Aviation Institute | 21 September 2022 | 1 | Stairway within the Moscow Aviation Institute | Reportedly fell down a flight of stairs inside the institute |
| Pavel Pchelnikov | 52 | Director of Digital Logistics, a Russian Railways subsidiary | 28 September 2022 | 1 | On the balcony of an apartment in Moscow | Allegedly shot himself on the balcony of his apartment |
| October | ||||||
| Nikolay Petrunin | 46 | Deputy of the State Duma | 12 October 2022 | 1 | Unnamed hospital in Moscow | Alleged complications of COVID-19 |
| Nikolai Mushegian | 29 | Co-founder of MakerDAO, a cryptocurrency platform | 28 October 2022 | 1 | Ashford Beach, Condado, San Juan, Puerto Rico | Drowned hours after tweeting. |
| November | ||||||
| Vyacheslav Taran | 53 | Co-founder of Libertex, a cryptocurrency and foreign exchange market company | 25 November 2022 | 1 | Villefranche-sur-Mer, French Riviera, France | Died in helicopter crash after taking off from Switzerland |
| Vladimir Makei | 64 | Foreign Minister of Belarus (2012-2022) | 26 November 2022 | 1 | Unknown | Reported to have died four days after returning from a Collective Security Treaty Organization summit in Armenia accompanying representatives of Vladimir Putin. He was said by his friends to have been “painfully upset” by the collapse of the course he was leading. |
| December | ||||||
| Grigory Kochenov | 41 | Creative Director of Agima, an IT company | 7 December 2022 | 1 | Volodarsky Street, Nizhny Novgorod | Reportedly fell to his death from his balcony while officials from the Investigative Committee executed a search warrant for his apartment |
| Dmitriy Zelenov | 50 | Co-founder of Donstroy, a construction company | 9 December 2022 | 1 | Antibes, French Riviera, France | Reportedly felt ill and fell over a railing and hit his head, later died in hospital without regaining consciousness |
| Vladimir Bidenov | 61 | Business associate and travel companion of Pavel Antov | 22 December 2022 | 1 | Hotel Sai International, Rayagada, Odisha, India | Died of heart problems; two days later his close companion, Pavel Antov, also died at the same hotel under suspicious circumstances |
| Alexander Buzakov | 66 | Director General of the Admiralty Shipyards | 24 December 2022 | 1 | Saint Petersburg | Died suddenly the day after he attended the float-out ceremony of the new Lada class submarine Velikie Luki. No explanation was given on the cause of death |
| Pavel Antov | 65 | Founder of Vladmirsky Standart, a meat processing company, and deputy (member) of the Legislative Assembly of Vladimir Oblast | 1 | Below a window of Hotel Sai International, Rayagada, Odisha, India | Fell out of window from Hotel Sai International Another Russian colleague, Vladimir Bidenov, died in the same hotel two days prior. | |
| Alexei Maslov | 69 | Former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Ground Forces and special representative of Uralvagonzavod. | 1 | Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital, Moscow | Died “unexpectedly” in a military hospital, no cause given. | |
| Vladimir Nesterov | 73 | Engineer who was general director of the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center | 28 December 2022 | 1 | Unknown | |
Potential Reasons Behind the Deaths of Russian Oligarchs
There are several potential reasons behind the recent deaths of Russian oligarchs. One possibility is political motivations, with the Kremlin seeking to eliminate potential rivals or those who are seen as a threat to Putin’s regime. Another possibility is economic implications, with some oligarchs facing financial difficulties or being targeted by international sanctions. The role of organized crime cannot be ruled out, as some oligarchs have been known to have connections to criminal networks.
Implications of the Deaths of Russian Oligarchs
The deaths of Russian oligarchs could have significant implications for the Russian economy and politics. If the deaths are politically motivated, it could signal a further crackdown on opposition and dissent. The loss of key figures in the oligarch class could also lead to instability in the economy, particularly if their businesses are not able to continue operating at the same level.
The deaths could also have an impact on international relations, particularly if the deaths are linked to organized crime or if international sanctions are involved. The oligarch class has been a key player in Russia’s relations with the West, and any disruption to this relationship could have far-reaching consequences.
Conclusion
The recent deaths of Russian oligarchs have raised questions about the potential reasons behind these deaths and their implications on the Russian economy and politics. It is important to continue monitoring the situation and to understand the role of oligarchs in the Russian economy and the current state of Russian politics. The future of Russia’s economy and politics remains uncertain, and it is important to consider the potential impact of these deaths on the country’s future.
