MOSCOW, Russia – The deputy editor-in-chief of a prominent Russian newspaper known for its support of Vladimir Putin has been found dead in her Moscow apartment. Anna Tsareva, 35, was the deputy editor of Komsomolskaya Pravda, which is considered to be Putin’s favorite newspaper.
Tsareva’s body was discovered nearly a year after the death of her boss, Vladimir Sungorkin, the 68-year-old editor-in-chief of the same newspaper. Her death marks the latest in a series of mysterious deaths in Russia, prompting police to open an investigation.
Initial reports indicated that there was no evidence of a break-in at Tsareva’s apartment, and no signs of a violent death were found. She had been suffering from an unspecified acute respiratory viral infection and a high fever for several days, but it is suspected that she died of acute heart failure.
Tsareva was responsible for overseeing content on Komsomolskaya Pravda’s website, including stories related to Putin’s actions, including the war in Ukraine. With 83.9 million readers in October 2023, Komsomolskaya Pravda’s website is the largest news website in Russia.
Sungorkin, who died in September 2022, had also faced suspicion surrounding his death, with colleagues reporting that he had shown signs of suffocation before falling unconscious on a business trip. He had been sanctioned by the West over his support for Putin’s actions and policies, and was accused of spreading misinformation and propaganda.
Both Tsareva and Sungorkin’s deaths have raised questions about the safety of journalists and media workers in Russia. The circumstances surrounding their deaths have led to concerns about potential foul play and have sparked public scrutiny of the government’s treatment of the media.
In conclusion, the deaths of Anna Tsareva and Vladimir Sungorkin have raised alarm in Russia, leading to an investigation by police and renewed scrutiny of the safety and treatment of journalists in the country.