Another Russian Billionaire Dies Under Mysterious Circumstances

Pavel Antonov, the chairman of the Agricultural Policy, Nature Management and Ecology Committee of the legislative assembly of Vladimir Oblast in Russia, has died in India. This was announced in a statement published on the website of the Legislative Assembly.

Antonov turned 65 on December 22. The cause of death was not disclosed in the statement. He reportedly died under "tragic circumstances," wrote Vyacheslav Kartukhin, the deputy chairman of the Legislative Assembly, on his Telegram channel.

According to NDTV, the incident took place in a hotel in the Rayagada district of Odisha state in eastern India. Circumstances surrounding the death suggest suicide, said a senior police officer, whose name has not been disclosed.

On December 22, another member of the same Russian tourist group, identified as Vladimir Bidenov, was also found dead in the same hotel, according to the television channel. Antonov was said to be “distressed” after his friend’s death, the police source told NDTV.

The law enforcement agency stated that they are not ruling out any theory in their investigation, including the possibility of an accidental fall from the balcony. The identities of the other two members of the tourist group have not been disclosed. The Russians have been asked to remain on site and cooperate with the investigation.