Another Russian oligarch is dead under mysterious circumstances

Dec 20, 2022

Ryan Robertson Anchor, Investigative Reporter

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor, Investigative Reporter)

Another Russian oligarch is dead. Once again, the circumstances surrounding the death are a little suspicious.

According to French media, 50-year-old Dmitry Zelenov died earlier this month while visiting friends in southeastern France. A Russian news agency reported Zelanov didn’t feel well after dinner and allegedly fell down some stairs, and then over a railing. Zelenov was taken to the hospital, but died from massive head trauma.

Zelenov made his fortune in real estate. He graduated from Moscow State University and was the former owner of the Don-Stroy group of promoters. His former company was behind the building of Triumph Palace in downtown Moscow. French law enforcement is investigating Zelenov’s death.

At least seven other Russian oligarchs died this year under mysterious circumstances. Russian oligarchs dying mysteriously isn’t a new phenomenon. However, since the start of the war in Ukraine, there has been an increase in the number of oligarchs dying under suspicious circumstances.

In April, Sergey Protosenya allegedly killed his family with an axe and then hanged himself while in Spain. Vadislav Avayev is accused of shooting his family dead before he turned the gun on himself. Ivan Pechorin died after falling out of a speed boat. Ravil Maganov died at a hospital, after he allegedly tripped and fell out of a window while smoking.

Tags: France, Russia, Ukraine

ANOTHER RUSSIAN OLIGARCH IS DEAD. ONCE AGAIN, THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DEATH, ARE A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS.

50-YEAR-OLD DMITRY ZELENOV DIED EARLIER THIS MONTH WHILE VISITING FRIENDS IN SOUTHEASTERN FRANCE. A RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCY REPORTED ZELENOV DIDN’T FEEL WELL AFTER DINNER, AND ALLEGEDLY FELL DOWN SOME STAIRS, AND THEN OVER A RAILING. ZELENOV WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, BUT DIED FROM MASSIVE HEAD TRAUMA.

ZELENOV MADE HIS FORTUNE IN REAL ESTATE. HIS FORMER COMPANY WAS BEHIND THE BUILDING OF TRIUMPH PALACE IN DOWNTOWN MOSCOW. FRENCH LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE INVESTIGATING ZELENOV’S DEATH.

AT LEAST SEVEN OTHER RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS DIED THIS YEAR UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. RUSSIAN OLIGARCHS DYING MYSTERIOUSLY ISN’T A NEW PHENOMENON. HOWEVER, SINCE THE START OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OLIGARCHS DYING UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN APRIL, SERGEY PROTOSENYA ALLEGEDLY KILLED HIS FAMILY WITH AN AXE AND THEN HANGED HIMSELF WHILE IN SPAIN. VADISLAV AVAYEV IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING HIS FAMILY DEAD BEFORE HE TURNED THE GUN ON HIMSELF. IVAN PECHORIN DIED AFTER FALLING OUT OF A SPEED BOAT. RAVIL MAGANOV DIED AT A HOSPITAL, AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY TRIPPED AND FELL OUT OF A WINDOW WHILE SMOKING.