An overview of the most sensational deaths and political murders in Russia:
The Kremlin opponent Alexander LITWINENKO was murdered in London in 2006 with the radioactive poison polonium-210. The British judiciary sees it as proven that the trail of the suspected backers leads to high political circles in Moscow. Russia rejects this.
The journalist Anna POLITKOWSKAYA made a name for herself as a critic of the wars in Chechnya. On October 7, 2006 – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 54th birthday – she was shot dead outside her apartment in Moscow. After a long investigation, an ex-policeman was convicted as the mastermind and a Chechen as the murderer. Politkovskaya’s family and ex-colleagues suspect a political motive and are calling for a search for those behind it.
The human rights activist Natalia ESTEMIROWA was found shot dead in the North Caucasus conflict region in 2009. With reports of the disappearances of civilians in the area, she had repeatedly earned the wrath of those in power loyal to Moscow. Although the Kremlin promised an investigation, the crime remains unsolved.
The journalist Anastasia BABUROWA and human rights lawyer Stanislav MARKELOW were shot dead on the street in Moscow in 2009. A right-wing extremist and an accomplice were sentenced to long prison terms for the crime. They had denied their guilt.
The opposition politician and former deputy head of government Boris NEMZOW was shot dead at night within sight of the Kremlin in February 2015. The indictment is based on a contract killing; his family suspects that there are people behind it in the leadership of the Chechen Republic.
The head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Eugene PRIGOSCHIN, died in a plane crash in Russia in August 2023. Two months earlier, the former chef and ally of President Vladimir Putin in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine organized a brief uprising against the Russian military leadership.
Kremlin critics Alexey NAWALNY survived an attack with the nerve agent Novichok in August 2020. After his recovery, he returned to Moscow in January 2021. After landing, he was immediately arrested and has been in a prison camp ever since.
