DEAD IN THE WATER Russian chief prosecutor found dead in river but ‘didn’t drown’ in latest mystery death hitting Putin’s cronies

James Liveris

• Published: 14:05, 3 Jul 2023
• Updated: 14:20, 3 Jul 2023

A RUSSIAN chief prosecutor has been found dead in a river but reportedly "did not drown" in the latest mystery death surrounding Putin's cronies.

Andrey Fomin was swimming in the Volga, Europe's longest river, when he suddenly died at the weekend.

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Russian prosecutor Andrey Fomin was found dead in the Volga River, it was reportedCredit: Meduza

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Fomin pictured in the left row at a Russian State Duma meetingCredit: Getty

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A large number of Russian President Vladimir Putin's cronies have died in the past 18 monthsCredit: AP

The 57-year-old was the chief prosecutor of Chuvashia, a region about 420 miles east of Moscow, and was an ardent supporter of despot Putin.

According to Telegram channel A Siren, Fomin was reported dead on Saturday, July 1.

He was reportedly swimming about 500ft offshore but did not make it back to the river bank.

Fomin was allegedly within a 1.4 mile designated swimming area as he was crossing the Volga during a local Chebswim event.

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A spokesman for Chuvashia's prosecutor's office told Russian media that an audit was underway and that "no details" surrounding the man's death had been confirmed.

Although, news agency 76RU later claimed that preliminary reports suggested he died of cardiac arrest.

A source also told REN TV that during the swim, Fomin became ill and therefore was "promptly pulled out of the water."

The source added: "Doctors were unable to save him. He died as a result of acute cardiovascular failure."

But as rumours swirled around Fomin's mystery death, another group of experts suggested he did not drown.

According to the Baza telegram channel, investigators established the preliminary cause of Fomin’s death and it "turned out that no water was found in the prosecutor’s lungs".

They further claimed he did not choke and that Fomin also had a very low level of glucose in his blood.

The mysterious circumstances come as more than 30 high profile Russians have died since Putin invaded Ukraine.

And experts believe the deaths of at least 39 people - ranging from oligarchs to scientists - could show the shadowy and bloodstained hand of the Kremlin.

Many of the movers and shakers died in odd circumstances, such as sudden "suicides" and falls from windows.

It has led Jon Sweet, a retired US Army Military Intelligence Officer, to describe Putin as running a "modern-day FSB version of Murder Inc."

"Anyone seen as a potential threat seems to have an attraction to an open window," Sweet told The Sun Online.

The pile of dead bodies has appeared to have grown at an alarming rate in the last 18 months.

The Sun Online totalled up at least 39 deaths since January 2022.

Fomin was believed to be a supporter of Putin and was also part of Russia's infamous "list of 6000".

The document listed bribe-takers and warmongers and was created by the Anti-Corruption Foundation to publicly identify "enablers of Putin's invasion of Ukraine".

The Chuvashia prosecutor was included as one of the key Russian security officials who refused to protect the rule of law in the conditions of the invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine.

The former state official was born in the Vladimir region and began his rise as a senior law enforcement officer after he graduated from Yaroslavl State University, PG Demidov.

He then took a job in the Yaroslavl office in 1992, where he became the deputy prosecutor of the region, it was reported.

And from 2014 to 2020, he was promoted to deputy prosecutor in the annexed Crimea.

It follows the death of Sergey Grishin - the so-called "Scarface" oligarch who sold Meghan and Harry their California mansion - who died from sepsis after criticising Putin.

That same month, Russian scientist Andrey Botikov - who created the "Sputnik V" vaccine - was strangled with a belt in his apartment.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/22906323/russian-chief-prosecutor-dead-river-mystery-death-putin-cronies/

Russian Creator of Hydrogen Bomb Found Dead in Apartment

https://www.newsweek.com/grigory-klinishov-russian-nuclear-scientist-found-dead-moscow-hydrogen-bomb-1808407

Putin Wants to Kill Prigozhin, Offers Wagner Fighters Amnesty: Reports

https://www.newsweek.com/putin-wants-kill-prigozhin-offers-wagner-fighters-amnesty-reports-1808822

PANICKED PUTIN Russia ‘fears Wagner Group rebel plot to attack Putin’s Crimean Bridge’ as unprecedented security checks spark gridlock

Will Stewart

Taryn Pedler

Published: 17:56, 2 Jul 2023

FEARS that Wagner Group rebels are plotting to attack Putin's Crimean Bridge were sparked this weekend as a huge security operation triggered a gridlock.

Tourists flocking to the popular Black Sea peninsula were hit by delays of up to seven hours on the ten-mile crossing. 

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Tourists flocking to Crimea have been stuck in a massive gridlock on the Kerch BridgeCredit: East2West

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A bomb blast in October on a truck crossing the bridge caused major damage to the Kerch Strait crossingCredit: AFP

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Fears have arisen that Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Group are plotting to attack Putin's Crimean bridgeCredit: AP

Intense security checks were imposed on each car and all passengers using the £3billion Kerch Bridge that links annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland. 

There were also delays on a nearby truck ferry service. 

Russia fears a deadly new bomb attack amid concerns it could be staged by disgruntled Wagner fighters after their mercenary army was axed by Putin following an armed revolt against his regime, according to a report.

A bomb blast in October on a truck crossing the bridge caused major damage to the Kerch Strait crossing which has since been repaired.

This was blamed on Ukraine. 

Now the concerns are that angry Wagner fighters could stage an attack due to their anger that Putin may be reneging on a deal with the private military company’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in return for halting their armed revolt last month.

“Obviously, saboteurs are expected in Crimea,” stated Telegram channel InformNapalm.

These were likely from Russia.

“And who is the most terrible saboteur in Russia now?

“That's right, Wagner PMC [Private Military Company] rebels. 

“It is possible that some attentive people passed information to the FSB that the Wagnerites are preparing to bring explosives and ammunition to Crimea, because the agreements on the part of the Kremlin have not been fully implemented.”

The searches involved sending children for X-rays and inspecting the glove compartments of cars, said the pro-Ukrainian outlet.

Some Wagner fighters are expected to go into exile in Belarus with leader Yevgeny Prigozhin while others will join the regular Russian army. 

But many are seen as unhappy over the choices they are given and the winding down of the armed force.

The Putin-appointed official in charge of transport in Crimea Nikolai Lukashenko said: “Staff numbers on the inspection lines have been increased and control over their work has been strengthened. 

“We apologise to citizens for the inconvenience.”

One angry waiting tourist said: “The situation is a nightmare. 

“We didn't sleep at night, we are practically without water, food, and we have two small children. 

“The system is completely dysfunctional.”

Another complained: “We stood for three hours without moving.”

Many Russians cannot travel to Mediterranean destinations this summer because of visa curbs and Western sanctions due to Putin’s war against Ukraine. 

They are flocking to Crimea instead - even though it is potentially a war target.

The Russian rouble has also plummeted due to Putin’s war making foreign travel out of reach for millions, leading them to risk summer vacations in the region. 

Crimea is now in range of UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, but tourists are still surging to the stunning peninsula. 

This is despite many beaches being dug with trenches in case Ukraine mounts a counteroffensive to grab back its territory. 

Reports also suggest some beaches have been mined by the Russians in the traditional summer season vacation playground. 

It comes as Ukraine issued a chilling warning to Russian tourists flocking to Crimean beaches for the summer.

The Defence of Ukraine shared a tweet earlier today which read: "Big plans this summer? A travel advisory is in effect for certain beaches.

"We warned you last summer to stay away from Crimea.

"Our seasonal forecast calls for stormy weather".

The clip showed snapshots of beaches being bombed, tourists sprinting away from plumes of smoke and people crying in their vehicles.

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The Kerch Bridge has since been repaired after the bomb blast last yearCredit: East2West

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Fighters of Wagner private mercenary groupCredit: Reuters

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Russia fears a new bomb attack amid concerns it could be staged by Wagner fighters after their mercenary army was axed by Putin following their revolt against his regimeCredit: Getty

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/22898967/wagner-group-rebel-plot-attack-putins-crimean-bridge/

Russian general is believed to be detained in aftermath of Wagner mutiny, AP sources say

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-generals-mutiny-putin-prigozhin-surovikin-b2e942036548a05f1f65791d0e70ae17

Russia Could Blow Up Nuclear Plant After Handing It to Ukraine: Zelensky

BY ANDREW STANTON ON 7/1/23 AT 1:44 PM EDT

 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday. Zelensky on Saturday warned that Russia could remotely detonate the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after handing it over to Ukraine.

YAN DOBRONOSOV/GLOBAL IMAGES UKRAINE VIA GETTY IMAGES

Russia could blow up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) after handing it back over to Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Saturday.

Zaporizhzhia, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, has long been a focus point in the Russia-Ukraine war, launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin last February. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have fought for control of the plant, and combat around it has sparked concerns about the potential for a nuclear explosion, which would have devastating consequences for the surrounding area. Last month, Ukraine launched a counteroffensive aimed at reclaiming occupied territory in the Zaporizhzhia region, with authorities warning about a potential Russian attack at the facility.

Zelensky on Saturday issued a new warning about a "serious threat" at the ZNPP.

"We know for sure that this was considered by the Russian Federation as one of the plans, so that later, when the station is handed over to us, to detonate it remotely for the release, and this is also very dangerous," Zelensky said, according to The Kyiv Independent.

He urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to "thoroughly" inspect the power plant if Russia opts to hand the plant over to Ukraine.

Zelensky's warning comes amid increased concerns about the ZNPP. The Ukrainian president said last month that intelligence reports indicate that Putin is considering to launch a terrorist attack at the nuclear plant through radiation leakage. Ukraine has long accused Russia of weaponizing the power plant in their "aggression."

"We take all such reports very seriously and I have instructed our experts at the site to look into this matter and request the access they need for doing their job. Until now they have not observed any mines or other explosives. Further access will still be needed," IAEA's Director General Rafael Grossi said on the IAEA's website on Friday.

The IAEA has found "no visible indications of mines or other explosives" at the Zaporizhzhia plant, but experts still need "additional access to carry out further such checks at the site," according to a statement the organization sent to Newsweek on Saturday.

"Intelligence has received information that Russia is considering a scenario of a terrorist attack at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. A terrorist attack with radiation leakage. They have prepared everything for this," Zelensky said during a video address that was shared to social media Thursday.

Moscow, however, has denied Zelensky's allegations about a potential attack using the power plant, pointing to a "high assessment" from the IAEA.

"The nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is extremely fragile," Grossi said on Wednesday, who traveled to the plant last month. "Now more than ever, all sides must fully adhere to the IAEA's basic principles designed to prevent a nuclear accident. We will intensify our efforts to help ensure nuclear safety and security, while also providing assistance to the affected region in other ways."

A spokesperson for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) wrote in a statement to Newsweek that any explosion at the plant "could have catastrophic consequences as Chernobyl showed."

"We urge all sides to respect the IAEA call for a demilitarised zone around the Zaporizhzhia power station," ICAN's statement reads.

Newsweek reached out to Zelensky's office for comment via email.

Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defense said on Friday that Russia has gradually been reducing the number of personnel at the plant, Reuters reported and that three employees of Rosatom, a Russian state nuclear firm, were among the first to leave the plant.

In addition, the Associated Press reported on Thursday that Ukraine held drills in the region to prepare for a potential radiation leak.

Update 07/02/2023, 8:38 a.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from ICAN.

 

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-could-blow-nuclear-plant-after-handing-it-ukraine-zelensky-1810318 

Czechs call Russia a threat, China a systemic challenge in new security strategy

Reuters

June 29, 2023  3:55 AM GMT+7  

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Naryn-Kala fortress in Derbent in the southern region of Dagestan, Russia, June 28, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Savostyanov/Pool via REUTERS

PRAGUE, June 28 (Reuters) - The Czech government called Russia a direct threat and China a systemic rival in a new security strategy, approved by the cabinet on Wednesday, reflecting what it called the end of a period of peace and stability in Europe seen since the end of the Cold War.

The central European NATO and EU country "must prepare thoroughly for the possibility that it could become part of an armed conflict," although the risk of a direct attack on the country remains low, the strategy document said.

The Czech Republic put relations with Russia and China under review when the current government took office in late 2021, after previous governments and former President Milos Zeman courted closer relations with both.

Following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the current centre-right government was quick to support Kyiv by shipping military equipment including tanks, and has been one of its most active western backers.

"Russia acts deliberately against Czechia's political, economic and social stability," the strategy document said. "It poses a fundamental threat to our security."

"China calls into question the international order. This has adverse implications for Euro-Atlantic security," it added.

"Russia and China share the interest to weaken the influence and unity of democratic countries. This systemic rivalry is of a long-term nature."

The country's previous security strategy, the core for policymaking, from 2015 had not mentioned Russia or China by name.

Ties with Russia became strained in 2021, before the Ukraine war, after Czech security services accused Moscow of being behind 2014 explosions at an arms depot, which led to the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats. Russia denied the accusations.

The strategy said Russia was using hybrid actions to weaken democratic institutions and destabilise society.

"Unless there is a fundamental and deep political and societal change in Russia, Russia will remain a threat to the European space regardless of the result of the war in Ukraine," the document said.

With China, relations cooled when plans for major Chinese investments failed to materialise, and after Czech parliamentary leaders and the current cabinet pursued closer ties with Taiwan, although the counties do not have any formal diplomatic relations.

The Czechs have also been active in warnings against usage of Chinese technology in critical infrastructure.

"There is risk from Chinese investments into Czech and European critical infrastructure, dominance in strategic supply chains, control of key commodities and development of emerging and groundbreaking technologies, mainly artificial intelligence outside ethical norms and international standards," the new security strategy said.

Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Howard Goller

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

https://www.reuters.com/world/czechs-call-russia-threat-china-systemic-challenge-new-security-strategy-2023-06-28/