Found Dead in a Serbian Hotel
Criticized the Ukraine War and Left the Broadcast
The Exact Cause of Death Has Not Been Revealed Yet
A famous Russian chef who criticized the Ukraine war was found dead in Serbia. On the 13th (local time), British media including the BBC reported that Russian celebrity chef Aleksei Zimin (52) was found dead in a hotel room in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, the day before. Living in London, UK, and running the restaurant 'Zima,' he was reportedly visiting Belgrade to promote his book 'Anglomania.'
As there have been several cases of suspicious deaths of Russian anti-Putin figures abroad, there are also suspicions surrounding Zimin's death. The Daily Telegraph explained, "Serbia has a large Russian resident population and is the only country in Europe operating direct flights to Russia." However, Serbian authorities stated that no suspicious circumstances were found at the scene. An autopsy and toxicology tests are underway. The exact cause of death has not been disclosed.
Born in Russia in 1971, Zimin gained fame in Russian high society by running several restaurants in Moscow, according to media reports. After publicly criticizing Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, he left Russia and lived in the UK. While living in the UK, he continued to appear on Russia's popular cooking show on NTV but left the show after criticizing Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In a media interview at the time, he said, "After donating to Ukrainian refugees, my restaurant became a target of threats."
The Zima team announced Zimin's death on Instagram, mourning, "He was not just a colleague but a friend and a close companion with whom we shared many experiences." They added, "Aleksei achieved much through an amazing life. We thank everyone who sent condolences and offer our sympathies to the bereaved family."
Suspicious Deaths Increase Significantly Since the Outbreak of the Ukraine War
As Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, there have been a series of suspicious deaths among Russians who criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo by EPA Yonhap News
As Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, suspicious deaths of Russians who criticized President Vladimir Putin continue. At the end of April, former Russian military pilot Maksim Kuzminov died under suspicious circumstances. Kuzminov defected to Ukraine in August last year, carrying military secrets on an Mi8 helicopter. He then secretly moved to Spain, changed his identity, and started a new life. However, he reportedly flaunted his lifestyle with compensation money received in Kyiv at clubs and other venues, which likely led to his exposure by Russian intelligence agencies.
The cause of death of Aleksei Navalny, Putin's biggest political opponent, also remains unclear. He suddenly died in February in a prison in Yamal-Nenets, the northernmost region of Siberia. Navalny had previously been poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok on a flight to Moscow in 2020, was treated in Germany, and survived dramatically. Novichok is a substance historically used by the KGB for assassinations of key figures. According to The New York Times, about 50 Russian businessmen or dissidents have died under unexplained circumstances since the outbreak of the Ukraine war.
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