Russian Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Pyotr Kucherenko has mysteriously died on his way back from a diplomatic mission in Cuba.
According to Kucherenko's staff, he fell ill during the flight back to Russia on Saturday, May 20th. As per The Times of London, the plane the official was in made an emergency landing in Mineralnye Vody, where doctors unsuccessfully tried to save his life.
Kucherenko is survived by his wife, pop singer Diana Gurtskaya, and their teenage son.
While there was no confirmed cause of death, an unnamed source close to Gurtskaya told Russian state media that his family believed the death was linked to the politician's heart condition but would await the results of an official autopsy.
Mysterious death supposedly linked to dissent
In reaction to Kucherenko's death, Russian independent journalist Roman Super stated on his Telegram channel that he spoke with the late official "just days" before fleeing Russia shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The journalist was told to "[l]eave [Russia] as soon as possible" as the "degree of the brutalization of the [Russian] state" would be unimaginable.
"In a year, you won't recognize Russia at all," Kucherenko told Super during their last conversation. "By leaving you are doing the right thing."
The minister also told Super that while he wanted to flee, it was "no longer possible to do so" as the Russian government under Vladimir Putin seized their passports. Kucherenko added that no country in the world would be willing to take in a Russian official like him "after this fascist invasion"
Additionally, Super detailed that Kucherenko felt distressed and powerless over the invasion and was finding it hard to sleep.
Kucherenko's mysterious death one of many
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware of Kucherenko's cause of death.
There were also reports that senior Russian officials have been forbidden to resign their positions. However, Peskov dismissed the report as a hoax.
Kucherenko was the latest of a string of high-profile Russians who have died under mysterious circumstances in the last 15 months. Most of the deaths were either by suicide or by unexplained accidents.
