Two Russian oligarchs have died in an apparent suicide within 24 hours of each other

Links to the Breadcrumb trail

1. world
2. News

The deaths are reported to be the latest of four deaths by top Russian oil executives.

Publication date:

April 22, 2022 • 16 hours ago • 3 minutes reading • 10 comments Vladislav Avaev Photo from Twitter

Content of the article

Two prominent Russian oligarchs have been found dead with their families at their multimillion-dollar residences in Russia and Spain – within 24 hours of each other this week.

Advertising 2

This ad is not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

Police are investigating both homicide cases. However, the deaths that occurred so close to each other make some consider the circumstances suspicious.

On Monday, unable to contact her father, Vladislav Avaev, a former Gazprombank vice president and Kremlin official, 26-year-old Anastasia arrived at his lavish apartment in Moscow to find him dead. Next to the 51-year-old man were the lifeless bodies of his wife Elena, 47, and her younger daughter Maria, 13.

All three have gunshot wounds, and Anastasia told police she found a gun in her father’s hand, the Sun reported.

1. Satellite images show a new mass grave dug by Russian forces near Mariupol

2. Why the Pope’s gesture for reconciliation between Ukraine and Russia angered many followers

Advertising 3

This ad is not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

Before working as vice president at the private bank Gazprom, Avaev made his fortune in construction. He then became deputy head of the Kremlin’s main department. Avaev has resigned as vice president of Gazprom, Russia’s third-largest bank and a key instrument for accepting oil and gas payments in Russia. He played a significant role in Russia’s gas-ruble gas scheme for revenge against Western sanctions.

According to an unnamed source, Avaev was jealous that his wife became pregnant by his driver. However, reports are conflicting whether she was pregnant at all.

A neighbor named Christina was quoted as saying by Euro Weekly News: “I heard three shots and shouts. A woman was screaming. Then two more shots were heard. No one else was shouting. I looked out the window – I thought it was a fireworks display. It turned out they weren’t, my mother told me they were definitely shots. “

Advertising 4

This ad is not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

Sergey Protosenya Photo from Facebook

Another neighbor said: “He was a smart man, almost the head of Gazprombank. I had seen him – he didn’t look like a maniac. He was a maniac. He had no reason to do so. He was rich, smart. There is no way to kill such a person. “

Russian police have said they will investigate any traces of his personal and professional life. A total of 13 weapons were found in the apartment, police said.

The next day, April 19, Sergei Protosenya, a former board of directors of Russia’s natural gas company Novatek, was found hanged in the courtyard of a Spanish villa on the Costa Brava. His wife and daughter were found beheaded on the property.

Investigators are said to be pursuing the theory that the 55-year-old man killed both women with an ax and a knife before taking his own life. Local reports say steps have been taken to avoid leaving fingerprints on the murder weapon, which calls into question the theory. According to the local press, El Punt Avui has not left a death note and Protosenya was found without blood on his body.

Advertising 5

This ad is not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Content of the article

There is no way to kill such a person

Both Novatek and Gazprom have been subject to US sanctions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The deaths are reported to be the latest in four deaths by senior Russian oil officials.

On February 25, the day after Russia invaded Ukraine, 61-year-old former Gazprom deputy Alexander Tyulyakov was found hanged in a cabin near St. Petersburg, Novaya Gazeta reported. Tyulyakov’s body hung in his garage with a suicide note next to it. He had worked for Gazprom for nearly 10 years and became deputy CEO of the energy giant.

In January, 60-year-old Leonid Shulman, who headed Gazprom’s transport service, died of an apparent suicide. Shulman was found in the bathroom of a cabin in the Leningrad region. He left behind a note complaining of a broken leg. The knife that caused his death was reportedly in a bathtub next to him, appears inaccessible, according to the Daily Mail.

He died in a puddle of his own blood, covered with multiple stab wounds, according to the publication.

Share this article on your social network

Advertising 1

This ad is not yet loaded, but your article continues below.

Sign up to receive daily headlines from the Calgary Herald, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

By clicking on the register button, you agree to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

Thank you for registering!

Email is welcome. If you don’t see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of the Calgary Herald headlines will be in your inbox soon.

There was a problem registering with you. Please, try again

Comments

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civic discussion forum and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles. It can take up to an hour to moderate comments before they appear on the site. Please keep your comments up to date and respectful. We have enabled email notifications – you will now receive an email if you receive a response to your comment, there is an update on the thread for comments you follow, or if a user you follow comments on a comment. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.