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Tigran Keosayan has been found dead on Friday in what marks another suspicious death among individuals close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Keosayan held significant connections to Russia's state media apparatus as the husband of Margarita Simonyan, who serves as editor-in-chief of RT, the Kremlin-backed international news network. His relationship to one of Russia's most prominent media figures made him a notable figure within Putin's broader circle of allies.
RT, formerly known as Russia Today, operates as a state-funded broadcaster that has been central to Moscow's international information strategy. The network has faced restrictions and bans in multiple countries following Russia's military actions in Ukraine, making Keosayan's death particularly significant given the network's role in Moscow's global messaging efforts.
Keosayan's death comes amid a series of suspicious incidents involving Putin allies. Vitaly Kapustin, a 43-year-old construction company owner and regional deputy, was discovered hanging from a tall tree by a roadside with his hands tied behind his back. Witnesses reported: "He was so high up that a person couldn't easily climb there. We saw that his hands were tied," raising doubts about a suicide theory. Kapustin was a member of Putin's United Russia party.
The day before Kapustin's discovery, Alexander Fedotov, a former transport industry executive, was found dead at a luxury hotel at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport. Fedotov had suddenly resigned from his position as director of transport management in St. Petersburg last year, with the departure linked to claims of an investigation by Russia's powerful FSB intelligence service.
The deaths form part of a troubling series that includes former customs chief Boris Avakyan, found dead with slashed wrists at the Armenian consulate in St. Petersburg, and Alexander Tyunin, a high-ranking executive at a major military factory who was shot dead.
Experts suggest these deaths may be linked to business disagreements and political pressure, with the inclusion of Keosayan highlighting the reach into Russia's media establishment. The timing and circumstances of these incidents continue to fuel international attention on the safety of individuals within Putin's political and media orbit.
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