Another Russian oligarch has died in suspicious circumstances. The body of 49-year-old Igor Shkurko was discovered in Yakutsk prison on Tuesday.
The former CEO of energy company Yakutskenergo was accused of bribery. A day before his death, Shkurko appealed against that decision.
Shkurko was a pro-Putin United Russia party member but was suspended following bribery allegations. The cause of death has not yet been communicated. “On April 4, the suspect was found in a cell of the pre-trial detention centre without any sign of life,” the Russian authorities said. “An investigation team has been called to the scene. According to preliminary data, no signs of a criminal death have been found.”
Shkurko is by no means the only Russian oligarch to have recently died in suspicious circumstances. Since the invasion of Ukraine 13 months ago, dozens of top executives of Russian companies have lost their lives. The cause of death given with the deaths is often shrouded in a cloak of vagueness.
The 48-year-old victim was married and left two sons.