Pro-Vladimir Putin Russian elite mysteriously found dead in Siberian detention centre

Russian energy boss, Igor Shkurko, was found dead on 4 April in a detention centre in Siberia where he was being held on allegations of bribery.

Shkurko was the deputy director of Yakutskenergo, a Russian company based in Yakutsk, eastern Siberia, and a member of the pro-Putin United Russia political party. He was 49-years-old and a father of two sons.

As local Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda reports, Shkurko was arrested on 30 March on suspicion of taking a bribe of £5,000 and detained the next day at the 'request' of investigating authorities. Yakutskenergo’s chief executive, Alexey Struchkov, said the company was cooperating fully with their investigation.

Shkurko facing 'unjust' bribery allegations

As a result of the accusations, Shkurko had been suspended from the United Russia party and was facing expulsion. At the time, Ruslan Platonov, from the Yakut regional branch of the United Russia party, said:

The issue of expulsion from the party will be decided after the case is considered in court.

The day prior to his death, Shkurko submitted an appeal against what he described as an 'unjust allegation'. However, he passed away in a detention cell before his case could be heard, according to a 'high-ranking source' cited by the website arcticpost.ru.

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Shkurko's cause of death allegedly not 'criminal'

Russian authorities offered no details into the energy mogul's cause of death, however the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service said in a statement there were 'no signs' it had been a 'criminal death'. It said:

On April 4, the accused was found in a cell of the pre-trial detention centre with no signs of life.

Arriving medical workers ascertained his death. An investigative team was called to the scene. According to preliminary data, no signs of a criminal death were found.

According to a KP-Yakutia source, Shkurko died by suicide. However, it is not the first time such a claim has been made. Indeed, according to The Sun, Shkurko is the 40th member of the Russian elite to mysteriously pass away since Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Sources used:

Express: 'Mystery as Russian energy boss found dead in Siberian jail cell shrouded in secrecy'

Mirror: 'Top Russian energy boss mysteriously found dead after being arrested 'for taking bribe''

The Sun: 'OLIGARCH DEAD Russian energy giant boss found dead in Siberian cell in 40th mystery death of oligarchs and Putin officials'

KP-Yakutia: 'Источник: замглавы «Якутскэнерго» Игорь Шкурко совершил суицид в СИЗО'