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Energy bosses, politicians and outspoken critics – since the Russian invasion of Ukraine there have been regular mysterious deaths in Russia. The “New York Post” writes about a so-called “Putin purge”. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, 39 people have already fallen victim to this, the newspaper reports.
It is therefore a “particularly deadly time” to be on the side of Russian President Vladimir Putin (70). According to Russia expert John O’Neill, Putin and his entourage are responsible for some of the deaths. Secret assassinations of Russian leaders are the order of the day.
“Send clear signal
As expert O’Neill explains to the paper, Putin is doing this in a very sneaky way. He doesn’t kill people directly. “If he did, he would be ashamed all over the world. So he wants people to look like they are committing suicide or dying of unusual diseases,” said the US counter-terrorism expert.
Yet it is clear to everyone in Russia that these people were murdered. This is how Putin achieves exactly the effect he wants to achieve with his murderous madness. “It sends a clear message to the people associated with him: You better stay in his line or you’re dead,” O’Neill said.
He criticized Putin, then he was dead
The mysterious deaths of two Russians recently made the news: Russian oligarch Sergei Grishin († 56) died in early March, shortly after publicly attacking the Kremlin. Officially, there was a circulatory disorder in the brain, which caused blood poisoning. However, critics strongly doubt this theory.
The death of virologist Andrei Botikow († 46) was also read this month. The researcher who helped develop the controversial Sputnik V Covid vaccine is believed to have committed suicide.
“People who say what they think will be killed”
However, expert O’Neill assumes that from Putin’s point of view, the victims made a mistake or dared to criticize the Kremlin ruler. “The people who express their opinion will be killed.”
John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia program at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington, agrees. “It’s a bad time to disagree with Putin,” Hardie told the New York Post. Tolerance for opposition to the war and the regime in general has diminished significantly. (dzc)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
