Alleged Political Assassinations Linked to Vladimir Putin

Putin's Suspicious Trail

Vladmir Putin's alleged political assassinations have continued throughout his many years in office. Cases involve critics of the Russian government, with suspicions of political motives and often limited direct evidence linking Putin. Delve into the circumstances and ongoing discussions surrounding these controversial incidents.

Anna Politkovskaya (2006)

Cause of Death: Shot.
Location: Moscow, Russia.
Case Overview: An investigative journalist and critic of Putin, Politkovskaya was murdered in her Moscow apartment building. Her work focused on human rights abuses in Chechnya, and suspicions of government involvement persist. AP

Alexander Litvinenko (2006)

Cause of Death: Polonium-210 poisoning.
Location: London, United Kingdom.
Case Overview: Litvinenko, a former Russian FSB officer and vocal critic of Putin, died in London. A UK inquiry concluded that his murder was probably approved by the Russian government. Getty

Natalia Estemirova (2009)

Cause of Death: Abducted and shot.
Location: Chechnya, Russia.
Case Overview: Estemirova, a human rights activist and critic of the Kremlin, was abducted in Chechnya and later found dead. Her work focused on exposing human rights abuses in the region.

Stanislav Markelov (2009)

Cause of Death: Shot.
Location: Moscow, Russia.
Case Overview: Markelov, a human rights lawyer, was killed in Moscow. He had represented the family of a Chechen girl murdered by a Russian colonel. The motives behind his murder remain a subject of speculation.

Anastasia Baburova (2009)

Cause of Death: Shot.
Location: Moscow, Russia.
Case Overview: Baburova, a journalist, was killed in Moscow. She was known for her work, and her murder occurred alongside Stanislav Markelov. The motives behind their murders remain a subject of speculation.

Boris Berezovsky (2013)

Cause of Death: Found hanged.
Location: Sunninghill, United Kingdom.
Case Overview: Once a powerful oligarch and political opponent of Putin, Berezovsky was found dead in his UK home. The official cause of death was ruled as suicide, but doubts and conspiracy theories persist.

Boris Nemtsov (2015)

Cause of Death: Shot.
Location: Moscow, Russia.
Case Overview: A prominent opposition politician, Nemtsov was assassinated near the Kremlin. Many believe his murder was politically motivated, but direct evidence linking it to Putin remains elusive.

Denis Voronenkov (2017)

Cause of Death: Shot.
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine.
Case Overview: A former Russian parliamentarian and critic of Putin, Voronenkov was assassinated in Kyiv, Ukraine. He had fled to Ukraine and was cooperating with Ukrainian authorities in investigations against former President Yanukovych.

Sergei Skripal (2018)

Cause of Death (Survived): Poisoned with a nerve agent.
Location: Salisbury, United Kingdom.
Case Overview: Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer and double agent, survived a nerve agent attack in Salisbury, UK. The UK government accused Russian authorities of involvement, leading to diplomatic tensions.