Latest news with #AndreiBadalov
Spectator
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
Why Putin's elites keep dying
Although I suspect few readers' hearts will bleed for them, it's been a bad week for Russian elites. There has been a spate of real or apparent suicides and the arrest of a gold magnate as he prepared to leave the country. On Friday, Andrei Badalov, vice president of Transneft, Russia's largest state-controlled pipeline transport company, fatally fell from the window of his apartment in Moscow. This makes him the eighth senior Russian figure to die in this way since 2022. Although the police say he left a suicide note, by now the suggestion that foul play is at work has become something of a tasteless meme. This is a system in which everyone is corrupt, everyone has skeletons in their closet, and this is how Putin likes it The next day, Konstantin Strukov, CEO of Yuzhuralzoloto, Russia's third-largest gold producer, was preparing to fly to Turkey on Saturday on his private jet when the government revoked his passport, the federal aviation agency blocked his departure, and bailiffs boarded the plane and arrested him. He stands accused of massive, systematic corruption, using his financial and political muscle to seize coal and goal assets and then registering them under the names of relatives and other proxies. Then on Monday, Roman Starovoit was dismissed from his position as transport minister, although it seems he was already lying dead in his car, with his own pistol – ironically, a ceremonial one he was awarded in 2023 – next to him. Until last year, he had been governor of the Kursk region, and it seems that his successor, Alexei Smirnov, who is already under arrest for the wholesale embezzlement of a fifth of all the funds intended for the construction of defences against a Ukrainian attack, had also implicated Starovoit. Inevitably, the gossip is of forcible defenestrations, of a new purge, but the truth is likely at once less sinister and yet more worrying for the Kremlin. The state does kill, but in the main doesn't need to do so to members of the elite. This is a system in which everyone is corrupt, everyone has skeletons in their closet, and this is how Putin likes it: he has the excuses he needs whenever he wants someone made into an example. The humiliating arrest on camera, the show trial, the expropriation of the obscene riches accumulated through corruption and cronyism – these are the weapons of the Kremlin. Some, probably most of these suicides are probably exactly what they seem. The redefinition of the economy because of militarisation and sanctions has created winners and losers; high interest rates and the closing of many old export and import routes has led to selective pressures. In some cases, businesspeople may have taken their lives because personal and business pressures became just too much – and however outré it may sound, there are national propensities for suicide methods. Most suicides in the US are, predictably enough, by gun; in India, it is common to take pesticides; In Hong Kong, and Russia, people jump from tall buildings. Yet not all of these deaths are necessarily genuine suicides either. The increased pressures on the economy do seem to be pushing some more sharp-fanged or desperate business-political interests into more brutal competition for assets. As the national pie shrinks, the fight to retain the size of your slice increases. Usually, this is through pulling political strings to win contracts or preference, or else reiderstvo, 'raiding,' using fake documents or corrupted judges to take over rival companies. Sometimes, though, more severe methods are used: contract killings are again on the rise, and while most tend to use more unsubtle methods, some 'suicides' may be distinctly involuntary. Yet for every death there are many more arrests of corrupt officials and businesspeople. Putin's unspoken social contract with the elite is that they can steal, but only within certain limits and only so long as they are loyal to the Kremlin. That is unchanged, but the acceptable limits of personal enrichment and just what 'loyalty' means seem to be shifting, and in unpredictable ways. As one Moscow insider put it to me, 'the elites are willing to stay within the red lines – but what terrifies them is that they don't know where those lines are anymore.' This even affects those who were once untouchable. Strukov, for example, was also a powerful figure within the Chelyabinsk region apparatus of Putin's United Russia bloc, and deputy speaker of regional legislature. Starovoit likewise was a United Russia stalwart and a protégé of Arkady Rotenberg, one of Putin's childhood friends, and – not uncoincidentally – one of the country's richest men. So many other recent targets were once feted. Former defence minister Timus Ivanov, just sentenced to 13 years on bribery charges, was a Hero of Russia. This looks less like a deliberate purge, and more like the convulsions of a system in slow-motion crisis. A business elite increasingly engaged in cannibalistic competition for diminishing assets, a Kremlin that mistrusts the people on whom it depends to run its country and economy, that demands compliance with unspoken, unfixed and unclear rules. It certainly doesn't mean Putinism is headed for some imminent fall. But it does demonstrate that even as the war machine continues to grind on, the damage being done to the Russian regime is very real.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
From deadly windows to toad venom: How Putin's rivals are dying under mysterious circumstances
Roman Starovoit , Russia's former transport minister, was found dead with a gunshot wound inside a parked car in Odintsovo, a wealthy suburb near Moscow, just hours after his dismissal from office. Russian authorities, including the Investigative Committee, claimed suicide as the likely cause and noted that a gun—allegedly a ceremonial gift—was found beside him. However, reports suggest he may have died before the Kremlin publicly announced his removal, adding to growing speculation. Starovoit, 53, had last appeared in an official video on Sunday. By Monday morning, President Vladimir Putin issued a decree dismissing him from office without explanation. Russian media have linked his ouster to a corruption probe involving state funds allocated for fortifications in the Kursk region—where he had served as governor before joining the federal cabinet. His death is the latest in a troubling series of fatalities among Russian elites, many of whom have died under suspicious circumstances. Just days earlier, Andrei Badalov, a vice president at pipeline giant Transneft, reportedly fell from a Moscow window. Other recent cases involve top oil executives, diplomats, and financial officials—many dying in apparent suicides or freak accidents. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mapp Hill: Repossessed Houses For Sale At Prices That May Surprise You Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo According to The Sydney Morning Herald , the list includes: Ivan Sechin , 35, son of Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, died in February 2024 after reporting kidney pain at home. Vitaly Robertus , 53, Lukoil VP, was found hanged in his Moscow office in March. Dzianis Sidarenka , 48, Belarus's ambassador to Germany, fell from a window in Minsk in June. Georgy Chibisov , 44, a marketing executive, drowned in the Moskva River in July after falling off a cruise ship. Mikhail Rogachev , 64, former Yukos VP, died in October after falling from his Moscow apartment. Buvaisar Saitiev , 49, a Putin ally and Olympic champion, also reportedly died after a window fall in March 2025. Andrei Badalov , 62, was found dead on July 4, 2025—again beneath a window. Critics suggest a broader pattern, possibly involving Russia's security services. Activist and financier William Browder, who exposed Kremlin abuses in his book Red Notice , famously quipped: 'Windows are very dangerous in Russia.' Live Events Adding to the mystery, reports emerged of another unexplained death at the Ministry of Transport on the same day as Starovoit's. A 42-year-old senior civil servant reportedly died suddenly during a meeting—possibly from cardiac arrest—though no official confirmation has been released, according to Swiss news outlet Bluewin . The Sydney Morning Herald had earlier reported that 23 Russian billionaires died under mysterious circumstances in 2023 alone. Some were found after apparent suicides, others died in bizarre and brutal ways—including a gas executive whose family was reportedly bludgeoned with an axe, and one individual who died from poisoning via a shaman's toad venom. Former Russian defense minister Andrei Kartapolov added further intrigue by suggesting Starovoit may have died before the dismissal decree was made public—raising questions about the official timeline. As Russian prosecutors ramp up corruption investigations, with recent convictions of high-ranking military officials, some analysts believe an internal purge is underway. Regardless, the pattern of deaths paints a grim picture of life inside Putin's inner circle—and the risks of falling from favor.
Saudi Salary
06-07-2025
- Saudi Salary
فيديو: مواجهة مفتوحة.. ..حرب النخب.. تشتعل في أميركا وماسك يهدد بتغيير وجه السياسة في واشنطن
The U.S. military is preparing to retire what has long been considered one of its most iconic and feared warplanes, marking a significant turning point in the history of American air power. A proposal by the Pentagon aims to remove from service an aircraft that, for decades, has stood as a symbol of U.S. air superiority and battlefield dominance. The A-10 Thunderbolt II - commonly known as the Warthog - is slated to be fully retired by 2026. According to a report by DefenceNews, the U.S. Air Force has formally requested the decommissioning of all 162 A-10 attack aircraft as part of a broader restructuring plan that targets a total of 340 aircraft for removal. Initially, the fleet was expected to remain operational until the end of the decade, but strategic shifts and modernization goals have accelerated the timeline. The A-10, revered for its rugged design and legendary effectiveness against armored targets, has served for over 40 years. Its hallmark weapon, the 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon, made it particularly lethal against tanks and ground formations, earning it a fearsome reputation in conflicts from the Gulf War to Afghanistan. Despite its proven track record, the Warthog is being phased out in favor of newer, more versatile systems. However, the A-10 isn't the only aircraft facing retirement. The Air Force plan includes the withdrawal of 62 F-16C and D multirole fighters, 21 F-15E Strike Eagles, and 13 F-15C and D models. Transport and support aircraft are also part of the drawdown, including 14 C-130H Hercules cargo planes and three EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft. In addition, 14 KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling planes and 11 HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters are scheduled to leave service. This large-scale reduction reflects a broader shift in U.S. defense priorities, focusing on future technologies and fifth-generation capabilities, as the military prepares for the challenges of modern warfare. The retirement of the A-10, in particular, signals the closing chapter of a machine that has defined ground-attack tactics for generations. Andrei Badalov, vice president of Russia's state-owned oil pipeline company Transneft Dutch intelligence agencies have gathered clear evidence confirming Russia's extensive use of chemical weapons in its ongoing war against Ukraine North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska responded to the upcoming European Parliament (EP) vote on the country's EU progress report US President Donald Trump admitted that his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin did not yield any progress toward ending the war in Ukraine A state of emergency has been declared in the area surrounding the large wildfire near Ierapetra on the Greek island of Crete A full blockade of several major Serbian cities was launched on the morning of July 4 in protest against police violence
Global News
04-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
Russian oil executive found dead outside his window, state media says
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Andrei Badalov, the vice-president of Russia's national oil pipeline, Transneft, has been found dead after allegedly falling out of a window of his home in suburban Moscow, law enforcement told Russian state media on Friday. The former businessman's body was discovered beneath a window of a house in Rublyovka, an upscale residential neighbourhood on the outskirts of the Russian capital, TASS, Russia's national news agency, says. The state-run oil conglomerate also confirmed Badalov's death, without elaborating on the circumstances, but said his work came during a 'difficult and stressful period' due to wartime sanctions, according to the independent Russian newspaper, The Moscow Times. Badalov had served as Transneft's vice-president since 2021. Story continues below advertisement TASS says law enforcement officers told the agency that the deceased had left a farewell note and that preliminary findings suggest his cause of death was suicide. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy An investigation into the incident is underway. This is the latest in a wave of unexplained deaths of high-profile Russian figures since Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. More than a dozen others have also died: — With files from Global News
Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Times
Another Russian energy executive falls to death from high-rise block
Another Russian energy executive has died in unclear circumstances after falling from a high-rise building in Moscow. Andrei Badalov, 62, vice-president of the state-owned oil pipeline monopoly Transneft, was found dead on Friday morning on the ground below the apartment block where he lived in an elite neighbourhood on the western fringe of the capital. 'The preliminary cause of death is suicide,' a source told the state-owed Tass news agency, adding that an investigation was under way. Since President Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 a series of Russian energy executives and other businessmen have died unnaturally or mysteriously, some of them after falling from high balconies or windows. They include four deaths linked to Gazprom, the state energy giant. Others involved executives from the gas producer Novatek and the Lukoil oil and gas corporation.
