A highly respected Russian general and his wife were discovered dead in their home, adding to the growing list of critics of the Russian establishment who have met untimely deaths. Lieutenant General Vladimir Sviridov, 68, and his wife Tatyana, 72, were found lifeless in their bedroom after approximately a week had passed since their demise. Sviridov had previously served as the commander of the 6th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense of Russia from 2005 to 2009.
According to the Kyiv Post, initial reports from the Russian Telegram channel, Baza, suggest that there were no signs of violence involved in the couple’s death, and no traces of toxic substances were detected in their bloodwork. The cause of their passing remains unknown. The Baza channel stated, “What caused the death of Vladimir and Tatyana Sviridov is still unknown.”
During his tenure as a military commander in the 2000s, Sviridov publicly criticized the Russian army, particularly regarding the inadequate training of Russian pilots. He emphasized the necessity for pilots to accumulate approximately 100 hours of flight time per year for optimal combat readiness, a standard that was not being met at the time. In various interviews, he also highlighted the issue of poorly trained officers being appointed due to a lack of skilled individuals.
This incident adds to a series of suspicious deaths that have befallen critics and adversaries of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the years. Notably, in September of last year, Russian energy executive Ivan Pechorin tragically drowned after falling out of his boat. In late August, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner group and orchestrator of a coup-like march on Moscow, died in a peculiar plane accident.
The Kremlin and Russian state media have yet to comment on Sviridov’s death. However, Russian Major General Vladimir Popov expressed his disbelief, referring to the incident as “absurd.” He lamented the loss of individuals of such rank and merit, stating, “It’s a shame that people who deserve attention and respect meet such unfortunate fates.”
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of General Sviridov and his wife remain shrouded in mystery, leaving many to question the potential motives behind these tragedies.
