A former Russian commander who criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for failing to properly run the air force was found dead along with his wife.
According to the Kiev Post, the bodies of former Lieutenant General Vladimir Sviridov (68) and his wife Tatyana (72) were discovered on the 15th (local time) a week after their deaths.
Baza, a Russian Telegram outlet, reported that preliminary tests showed no signs of violence against the two men and that no toxic substances were found in blood tests.
The media explained, “Gas service staff have already measured it and it did not exceed the allowable concentration of hazardous substances,” and “the cause of death of the two people has not yet been determined.”
Former Lieutenant General Sviridov served as commander of the 6th Aviation and Air Defense Army from 2005 to 2009. He received the title ‘Honored Pilot of Russia’ from President Putin in 2005 and also received the Order of the Red Star.
While he was in the military, he complained about the poor treatment of his Russian auxiliaries.
In a 2007 interview with the Russian magazine Take Off, he said: “A pilot needs about 100 hours of flight time per year to be fully combat ready. “But we are not there yet,” he said, adding, “The average flight time for the military is currently only 25 to 30 hours.”
“We have no choice but to appoint officers who are not fully trained because we do not have better officers,” he said. “For the same reason, we are sending third-rate pilots to military academies. “This has not happened in the past,” he pointed out.
Since the invasion of Ukraine began last year, soldiers and businessmen have been dying mysteriously one after another.
Major General Vladimir Makarov, who headed the Russian police’s counter-extremism department, died in February. Authorities concluded that he suffered from depression and that his death was an extreme act.
On the 24th of last month, Vladimir Ivanovich Nekrasov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lukoil, Russia’s second largest oil company, passed away suddenly.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.