Journalist Who Exposed Putin’s Affair Found Dead in Riga

Grigory Nekhoroshev, the former editor who first reported on Vladimir Putin’s relationship with Alina Kabaeva, has been found dead in his home in Riga at the age of 59.

Suspicious Circumstances of Death

Grigory Nekhoroshev was found dead in his residence in Riga. Official reports cite acute poisoning from wild mushrooms, specifically death caps, which he allegedly gathered on his own property.

Associates of the journalist have raised questions regarding the official narrative, noting that he was an experienced mushroom hunter, a fact that has drawn significant attention to the circumstances of his passing.

The Story That Angered the Kremlin

In 2008, while serving as editor-in-chief of “Moskovsky Korrespondent,” Nekhoroshev published an article detailing an affair between the then-married Vladimir Putin and gymnast Alina Kabaeva. The report claimed Putin had secretly divorced his wife, Lyudmila, and intended to marry the much younger gymnast.

Although Putin continued to appear with Lyudmila at public events for several years, the couple announced their separation in 2013, with the Kremlin officially confirming their divorce in April 2014.

Putin’s Private Life and Offspring

Putin has two daughters with Lyudmila: Maria and Yekaterina. Media reports indicate he has at least two children with Kabaeva. Furthermore, the independent Russian portal Proekt reported in 2020 that Putin has a child with Svetlana Krivonogikh, a woman whose connection to the president was brought to light by the Pandora Papers.

The Demise of the Newspaper

The “Moskovsky Korrespondent” story triggered a major scandal, particularly after the Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” disseminated the information globally. Following the report, the newspaper was shut down, and Nekhoroshev faced interrogations and intimidation from the FSB.

The publisher, National Media Group, denied any link between the closure and the article, attributing the decision to high costs and internal management disputes.

Life in Exile

Nekhoroshev often referred to himself as a “personal enemy of Putin.” He spent the final 11 years of his life as a political refugee in Latvia, continuing his work as a critic of the Russian government.

Latvian authorities have yet to comment on the death, though an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. Latvian journalist Igors Vatolins remarked, “Putin clearly did not forgive him for this.”