In the midst of the mystery over a series of deaths among the elites of Moscow, a minister of the Government of Vladimir Putin who was critical of the war with Ukraine died of causes still unknown after falling ill on a plane while returning to his country after participating in the XX session of the Cuba-Russia Intergovernmental Commission.
Deputy Science Minister Pyotr Kucherenko, 46, became seriously ill during a flight from Havana on Saturday, and died on his return, CNN reported. Family members spoke of cardiac arrest
Journalist Roman Super, who fled Russia shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, said on Telegram that he spoke with Kucherenko "a few days" before fleeing and said the deputy minister, a critic of the war, feared for his safety.
"Kucherenko felt unwell while traveling on a plane with a Russian delegation returning from a business trip to Cuba. The plane landed in the town of Mineralnye Vody, where doctors tried to provide assistance," the ministry said in a statement, adding that the minister was able to be saved.
Kucherenko had participated in a summit in Havana, Cuba. Photo: EFE
Kucherenko's family said his death could have been caused by a heart problem, but they are waiting for the result of an autopsy scheduled for tomorrow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did not know the cause of Kucherenko's death.
According to journalist Román Super, in their last conversation dating from February 2022, the minister urged him to "leave as soon as possible" and flee a country where the state is "brutal."
According to the reporter, Kureshenko confided that he was taking antidepressants and tranquilizers, that he slept little and that "we are all taken hostage, no one can say anything, otherwise we will be immediately crushed like insects."
He said he could not escape because the passports of Russian officials had been "taken away." In addition, Kureshenko would have described the invasion of Ukraine as "fascist".
Putin's official was critical of the war in Ukraine. Photo: EFE
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed his sorrow over the death of Russian Deputy Minister Kucherenko.
"With deep sorrow we learned of the death of Russian Deputy Minister Piotr Aleksandrovich Kucherenko, upon his return to his country after the realization in our nation of the Intergovernmental Commission," Díaz-Canel tweeted.
"To his relatives, to the Russian government and people our deepest condolences," he said.
The senior official was returning from Havana, where he was part of the delegation headed by the Vice President of the Russian Government, Dmitry Chernyshenko, which participated in the XX session of the Intergovernmental Commission between the two countries.
Cuba's Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Elba Rosa Perez Montoya, who met with Kucherenko during his stay on the island, also expressed her condolences.
"We deeply regret the passing of the young Deputy Minister of Science and Education. Our condolences to the Russian government and people and his family," Perez Montoya said on Twitter.
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