MOSCOW, RUSSIA – The recent death of Anna Tsareva, the deputy editor-in-chief of Komsomolskaya Pravda, has added to a string of mysterious deaths in Russia. The 35-year-old’s body was found at her home, almost a year after her boss, Vladimir Sungorkin, also passed away.
Police have launched an investigation into Tsareva’s death, with initial reports indicating no signs of a break-in at her apartment. Although she had been suffering from an acute respiratory viral infection and a high fever, her cause of death is suspected to be “acute heart failure.”
Tsareva played a significant role in shaping the content of Komsomolskaya Pravda’s website, including coverage related to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As the largest news website in Russia, the outlet reaches an estimated 83.9 million readers.
Sungorkin’s death has been shrouded in suspicion as well. The former editor-in-chief and director general of Komsomolskaya Pravda was sanctioned by the West due to his involvement in spreading propaganda supportive of the Putin regime.
The newspaper has faced scrutiny for disseminating misinformation and manipulating facts, with the European Commission accusing Sungorkin of undermining the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine.
Tsareva’s death adds to a troubling trend of unexplained fatalities in Russia, prompting further questions and speculation about the circumstances surrounding these occurrences. The loss of two influential figures at one of Russia’s most popular media outlets raises concerns about transparency, accountability, and freedom of the press in the country.