Russian Journalist's Death in Latvia: Mushroom Poisoning Raises Questions
Grigory Nekhoroshev, who exposed Putin's relationship with Alina Kabaeva in 2008, died from mushroom poisoning in June in Riga. The article examines the circumstances and the normalization of suspicious deaths.
Russian journalist Grigory Nekhoroshev, who first published a story about Vladimir Putin's relationship with Alina Kabaeva in 2008, died suddenly on June 19 in Latvia from mushroom poisoning. After the publication, the newspaper he edited, Moskovsky Korrespondent, was shut down, and he received threats from Russian authorities, forcing him to flee to Latvia as a political refugee.
Nekhoroshev lived quietly in Riga, avoiding public attention but maintaining contacts with other Russian opposition figures. His death occurred under unusual circumstances—mushroom poisoning in June is rare in Latvia, as the mushroom season has not yet begun. According to reports, he consumed mushrooms growing in his yard.
Latvian police are investigating the case as a tragic accident, but official expert results are pending. In an opinion piece published by Delfi, the author draws parallels to the deaths of other Putin critics, such as Anna Politkovskaya, Alexei Navalny, and Alexander Litvinenko. The article highlights a growing societal tendency to normalize such deaths, viewing them as inevitable rather than politically motivated murders.
The Kremlin consistently denies any involvement in the deaths of opposition figures, and no official evidence of Russian security services' involvement has emerged in this case. However, the article notes that the 2008 publication about Putin's personal life provoked a strong reaction from him, leading to Nekhoroshev's forced exile.
