Russian Oil Company Chairman Reportedly Dies in Fall from Hospital Window
Democracy NowDec 25, 2022
The Facts
Indian police are investigating the sudden death of Russian politician Pavel Antov, a multimillionaire sausage tycoon and critic of the war in Ukraine, who died in the eastern state of Odisha.
On Saturday, Antov fell from a third-floor window of a luxury hotel in Rayagada city. His abrupt death comes after his friend and Russian lawmaker Vladimir Budanov died of a heart attack on Antov’s 65th birthday two days previously, on Dec. 22.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
Several powerful Russians have died violently or under mysterious circumstances since the start of Russia's assault on Ukraine. It's unsurprising then that Vladimir Putin, a former lieutenant colonel of the KGB and ex-head of the FSB, is famous for assassinating anyone who steps out of line. Pavel Antov is just the latest in a long list of Putin critics who have paid the price for speaking out against the Kremlin's maniacal leader.
Pro-Russia narrative
It's impossible to know if the string of unnatural deaths is merely a coincidence or conspiracy, since many oligarchs met their untimely ends outside Russia. While the circumstances of Pavel Antov's death are still being investigated, let's not forget he was a successful businessman, lawmaker, and philanthropist — his death is a tragic loss for Russia.