Russian Pol “Dies Unexpectedly” After Criticizing War

The Daily Beast reports:

A senior Russian lawmaker who was reportedly critical of the invasion of Ukraine died over the weekend, the Russian government confirmed, in the latest unexpected fatality of a prominent figure since the war began.

In a statement, Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education confirmed that Deputy Science Minister Pyotr Kucherenko, 46, died on Saturday. The ministry said he “became ill” while on board a plane carrying Russian delegates home after a business trip to Cuba.

Kucherenko’s untimely demise is one of many unexpected, high-profile deaths across Russia since the invasion started last year. Russian military officials, energy executives, and outspoken war critics have all died in mysterious circumstances over the course of the first year of the war.

Read the full article.

Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education confirmed that Deputy Science Minister Pyotr Kucherenko died on Saturday after he “became ill” while on board a plane carrying Russian delegates home after a business trip to Cuba. https://t.co/9uU4qgd1BK

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) May 22, 2023

A journalist recalled hearing Deputy Science and Higher Education Minister Pyotr Kucherenko criticizing the invasion of Ukraine months earlier. https://t.co/sc6ZTiAl1r

— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) May 22, 2023