Russia's Deputy Science Minister, Pyotr Kucherenko, 46, has died after he 'became ill' on a flight on Saturday 20 May from Cuba to Russia, according to Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education. He had been in Havana, the capital city of Cuba, on government business, as per the Ministry.
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The flight made an emergency landing in southern Russia, however doctors couldn't save him. His cause of death remains unknown. Kucherenko is survived by his wife, the pop singer Diana Gurtskaya, and their teenage son.
State-run broadcaster Zvezda claimed that his family initially linked his death to a heart condition, but refused to elaborate before a forensic examination takes place on Wednesday.
Deputy Minister described war as 'fascist invasion'
The day after his death, on Sunday 21 May, award-winning independent Russian journalist Roman Super claimed on Telegram that he spoke with Kucherenko in the Minister’s office 'a few days' before the journalist left Russia for security reasons shortly after the war began, according to The Moscow Times.
During their conversation, Kucherenko allegedly said:
It’s impossible [for me to leave Russia], they confiscate our passports. And there’s no world that would be happy to see a deputy Russian minister after this fascist invasion.
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Pyotr Kucherenko, 46, became seriously ill on the nearly 12-hour flight back home. The pilot made an emergency landing in southern Russia for medical attention; however, doctors could save Kucherenko's life.https://t.co/5zbOCkH0mG
— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) May 21, 2023
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Deputy Minister 'condemned the very idea of war'
Super said that the Minister revealed to him he was taking 'antidepressants and tranquilizers at the same time by the handful'. Kucherenko reportedly also said to Super:
It’s not really helping. I don’t sleep much. I feel terrible. We’re all held hostage. No one can make a peep.
You can’t imagine the degree of brutalization of our country. You won’t even recognize Russia in a year.
When Newsweek contacted Super for comment, he told the publication:
Everything I knew, I wrote. Petya [Kucherenko] was a normal person, and, like all normal people, he condemned the very idea of war, especially a fraternal one.
Super did not disclose exactly when the conversation occurred.
Kucherenko is the latest high-profile Russian figure to die under mysterious circumstances since Russian invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Sources used:
Newsweek: 'Mystery As Russian Official Dies Mid-Flight After Becoming Seriously Ill'
The Moscow Times: 'Senior Russian Official Dies After Privately Bemoaning ‘Fascist’ Invasion'
Daily Beast: 'Russian Deputy Minister Dies Suddenly After Slamming ‘Fascist Invasion’ of Ukraine'
