Vyacheslav Ponomaryov Deputy Head of Russian Ministry official found dead in Armenia

Who was Vyacheslav Ponomaryov ?

Vyacheslav Ponomaryov transitioned from being a former soap factory owner to assuming the unofficial position of mayor in Sloviansk, an eastern Ukrainian city, during the 2014 pro-Russian conflict. He strongly opposed the Ukrainian government that came into power following the 2014 revolution. Vyacheslav Ponomaryov asserted his authority over thousands of armed men who took control of the city and its surroundings. He was also implicated in several incidents where journalists, observers, and local officials were detained, with accusations of espionage or affiliation with fascist groups. Ultimately, he was arrested and removed from his position by separatist authorities, prompting him to relocate to Moscow.

Ponomaryov Career

Vyacheslav Ponomaryov has pursued two distinct careers, one as an entrepreneur and self-proclaimed mayor of Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine, and the other as a professional football player. Here is an overview of his accomplishments in both domains:

Soap Factory Owner and Self-Proclaimed Mayor of Sloviansk:

• Born on March 2, 1965, in Sloviansk, Ukraine, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov initially ventured into business, starting with a sawmill and transitioning to a soap production facility.
• In a significant turn of events during the pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine on April 14, 2014, he assumed the title of mayor of Sloviansk after leading an assault on the city hall. This endeavor involved taking charge of the city and its surrounding areas under the leadership of a considerable armed force.
• Ponomaryov was involved in several controversial incidents, including the detention of journalists, observers, and local officials, whom he accused of espionage or affiliation with fascist ideologies.
• Subsequently, in July 2014, he was arrested and removed from his position by the separatist authorities, prompting his relocation to Moscow.

Football Player:

• Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, born on May 2, 1965, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, enjoyed a separate football career.
• During his football career, he primarily played as a midfielder and represented various clubs in Uzbekistan, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
• A highlight of his football career was winning the Uzbek League twice with Pakhtakor Tashkent in 1991 and 1992.
• He also had the privilege of representing the Uzbekistan national football team from 1992 to 1996, where he scored one goal in 15 appearances.

Personal Life

Based on the information from web search results, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov was once married and had two children. However, his marriage ended in divorce when he became associated with the separatist movement. Tragically, he passed away on October 17, 2023, in his office in Armenia, where he held the position of Deputy Director at the Russian Ministry of Interior Representation. The exact cause of his death remains undisclosed. Information regarding his family, such as parents, siblings, or other relatives, is not readily available, suggesting that he maintained a highly private and discreet personal life.

Death of Vyacheslav Ponomaryov Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has been informed of the demise of a Russian national, prompting the initiation of a criminal investigation. Responding to media inquiries regarding the reported death of Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs’s representation in Armenia, Armenia’s Investigative Committee spokesperson, Gor Abrahamyan, provided this information to ArmInfo.

The spokesperson for the RA Investigative Committee announced the initiation of a criminal case under the provisions of Part 1 of Article 155 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, which pertains to the offense of murder. It is important to note that under the new Criminal Code, any instance of death prompts the commencement of a criminal investigation based on this specific article. However, it is important to make it clear that starting the process under Article 155 does not always mean that the main theory or assumption is about murder.

“An external examination of the corpse was carried out – no traces of violence were found. According to preliminary data, we are dealing with a sudden death. A forensic examination has been appointed, based on its results the causes and circumstances of death will be clear,” Abrahamyan noted.

Previously, there were accounts in the crime records detailing the discovery of Vyacheslav Ponomarev’s lifeless body at his place of employment on October 17, approximately at 09:40 in the morning.