Russian General found dead.

A highly decorated Russian general, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Sviridov, known for publicly criticizing President Vladimir Putin’s management of the air force, has been found dead in mysterious circumstances alongside his wife. The 68-year-old former commander of Russia’s 6th Army of the Air Force and Air Defence, who held the position from 2005 to 2009, was discovered lifeless in bed at his home in the village of Adzhievsky in the Stavropol region.

The bodies of Lt. Gen. Vladimir Sviridov and his 72-year-old wife, Tatiana, had reportedly been in their home for about a week before their discovery. Authorities found no signs of violence at the scene, and measurements taken by gas service workers revealed no excess concentration of harmful substances.

The cause of their deaths remains unknown, but a thorough inspection of the gas appliances in the house indicated a malfunction in a key valve during a recent power outage in the village. This suggests the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, leading to the couple likely passing away in their sleep. The Investigative Committee of Russia is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Lt. Gen. Sviridov had been removed from his commanding position over a decade ago after consistently criticizing the state of the Russian air force. In a 2007 interview with the Russian magazine Take Off, he expressed dissatisfaction with pilot training, highlighting the insufficient flight hours for combat readiness. Sviridov lamented the appointment of inadequately trained officers and the enrollment of subpar pilots into military academies, asserting that such practices were unprecedented.

The sudden and unexpected demise of the former commander has left those who knew him in disbelief. Major Gen. Vladimir Popov, an acquaintance, expressed sorrow over the circumstances of Sviridov’s death, describing it as an “absurd” end for someone of his rank and stature.

Notably, the string of suspicious deaths among individuals critical of President Putin has raised concerns. Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, there have been instances of untimely deaths, including the recent suspicious plane crash of Wagner Group mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had led a mutiny against Russia’s military brass. Critics argue that such incidents contribute to a growing list of businessmen, political opponents, and journalists facing untimely fates or close calls since Putin assumed power in 1999.