'Energy Weaponization' Russia's Gazprom, Fifth Related Businessperson Found Dead Under Suspicious Circumstances

State-Owned Company Led by Putin's Closest Aide and Related Businesspeople Die One After Another

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The British daily The Times reported on the 6th (local time) that business figures related to the Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom have been dying under suspicious circumstances one after another.

The Times reported that Yuri Boronov (61), a business magnate who worked with the Russian state-owned natural gas company Gazprom, was found dead with a gunshot wound at a swimming pool near Saint Petersburg, Russia, on the same day.

It added that shell casings and a pistol were found at the scene, but it was not confirmed whose they were.

Boronov was the CEO of the transportation company 'Astra Shipping' and had been involved in Arctic projects with Gazprom before his death. Gazprom had been pursuing plans to expand resource development such as natural gas in the Arctic until 2023.

Igor Volobuyev, vice chairman of Gazprombank who evacuated to Ukraine after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, raised suspicions of murder, saying, "He might have been threatened because he knew something."

The Times noted that Boronov was the fifth Gazprom-related figure to die this year.

In April, Vladislav Abayev (51), vice chairman of Gazprombank, a subsidiary of Gazprom, and Sergey Protosenya (55), an executive of Novatek, Russia's leading energy company, died in succession.

Abayev is reported to have killed his wife and 13-year-old daughter at his Moscow home before taking his own life. Protosenya was also announced to have killed his wife and 18-year-old daughter in Spain before committing suicide.

At the time, his son, who was not in Spain, expressed disbelief in the Spanish police authorities' announcement, causing controversy.

Additionally, in February, Alexander Turakov, a senior Gazprom official, was found dead. A month earlier, in January, Leonid Shulman, head of Gazprom's transportation division, was found dead at his home near Saint Petersburg. At the time, he was under investigation for fraud charges.

Gazprom is led by Alexey Miller, a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Gazprom is a state-owned company leading the export of Russian natural gas to Europe. It has recently been suspected of being a tool for Russia's war funding and energy weaponization.

Gazprom reduced the amount of gas sent to Germany via Nord Stream by 60% starting from the 16th of last month, citing that Siemens gas turbine parts repaired in Canada have not been returned due to Canadian sanctions.

After the Ukraine war, Gazprom has been cutting supplies to major European countries, being pointed out as the cause of Europe's energy shortage and high inflation.