Krasnodar, Russia – The chief editor of a Russian state TV channel near the frontlines of the conflict in Ukraine has been discovered dead from a suspected poisoning. Zoya Konovalova, 48, was found in her bedroom, while her ex-husband’s body was also found in the same location. The authorities have reported that there were no visible injuries on either of the bodies.
Konovalova was the chief editor of Kuban, a channel operated by Russian state TV company Kuban, which is part of the state-run giant All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company [VGTRK]. Her death comes just a month after the deputy editor-in-chief of Putin’s favorite propaganda newspaper was also found dead in Moscow. Dozens of mysterious deaths of prominent Russians have been reported since the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The pair are believed to have been dead for at least 24 hours before their bodies were discovered. According to a report by her own channel, the preliminary cause of death for Konovalova is poisoning by an unknown substance. A fragment of a plastic bag with a “powdery substance” was reportedly found in her private house. However, her colleagues and friends have insisted that she would never have taken drugs.
The Krasnodar region, where Konovalova’s channel was based, lies across the Kerch Strait from annexed Crimea, an area targeted by Ukraine during the conflict. This region is also home to Putin’s official Black Sea residence and his £3 billion cliff-top palace at Gelendzhik. The conflict has seen an increase in suspicious deaths of individuals on both sides, with allegations of assassinations and targeted attacks.
In a region heavily impacted by the war between Russia and Ukraine, Konovalova’s death raises concerns about the safety of individuals involved in state-run media and the potential use of poisoning as a means of assassination. The investigation into her death will be crucial for shedding light on the circumstances and potential motives behind the suspected poisoning.