Russian journalist Grigory Nekhoroshev, the editor who helped publish one of the most controversial reports about President Vladimir Putin's private life, has died in exile in Latvia at the age of 69, ending a career that became closely associated with one of the most sensitive stories ever reported about the Kremlin leader.
Nekhoroshev's death was confirmed by friends and reported by Russian media outlets. According to those reports, he became gravely ill after consuming poisonous mushrooms gathered near his home in Riga, where he had lived since leaving Russia more than a decade ago. Authorities have not publicly indicated any evidence of foul play, and investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death remain ongoing.
His name became internationally known in 2008 when he served as editor-in-chief of Moskovsky Korrespondent, the Russian newspaper that published claims alleging Putin planned to divorce his wife, Lyudmila Putina, and marry former Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champion Alina Kabaeva. The report generated immediate attention inside Russia and abroad, thrusting the newspaper into the center of a political storm.
At the time, both Putin and Kabaeva denied the allegations. The Russian president publicly criticized what he described as excessive interest in private lives, while the story quickly became one of the most discussed subjects surrounding the Kremlin leader.
The fallout was swift. Shortly after publication, Moskovsky Korrespondent ceased operations. Its owner, businessman and former KGB officer Alexander Lebedev, shut down the newspaper amid intense scrutiny. Reports later indicated that Nekhoroshev was questioned by Russian security services before eventually leaving the country.
Friends and colleagues say the controversy followed him long after he settled in Latvia. Igors Vatoļins, who reportedly met with Nekhoroshev shortly before his death, suggested the journalist never escaped the shadow of the story that defined his career.
"Nekhoroshev was the first to reveal the name of Putin's common-law wife, rhythmic gymnastics champion Alina Kabaeva. Putin clearly did not forgive him for that," Vatoļins was quoted as saying.
Those claims remain opinions expressed by acquaintances rather than established facts. No evidence has been presented linking Nekhoroshev's death to his journalism, and authorities have not suggested any connection between his reporting and his final illness.
Nevertheless, his passing has revived discussion about the pressures faced by journalists who investigate Russia's political elite. The Kremlin has long rejected accusations that it targets critics, but the deaths and attacks involving several high-profile opponents and reporters have fueled international concern for years.
Among the most prominent cases frequently cited by critics are:
- Journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered in Moscow in 2006.
- Former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko, who died in London in 2006 after poisoning with polonium-210.
- Opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot near the Kremlin in 2015.
- Businessman Boris Berezovsky, who was found dead in Britain in 2013.
- Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash in 2023.
While each case involved different circumstances, together they have contributed to a broader debate about the risks confronting Kremlin critics and political opponents.
The story that brought Nekhoroshev international attention also reshaped public discussion about Putin's personal life. Putin and Lyudmila Putina, who married in 1983 and had two daughters, publicly announced their separation in June 2013 after nearly three decades together. During a televised appearance following a ballet performance at the Kremlin, both described the split as a mutual decision.
Since then, Lyudmila, now known as Lyudmila Ocheretnaya following her remarriage to businessman Artur Ocheretny, has largely disappeared from public life. Putin, meanwhile, has consistently maintained strict privacy regarding his family and personal relationships.
