9 People Who Criticized Putin – and ‘Paid the Price’

In Vladimir Putin’s Russia, dissent often comes with a price – and sometimes, that price is death. Over the past two decades, numerous journalists, activists, former insiders, and political opponents have died under mysterious or violent circumstances.

This gallery highlights nine high-profile cases where speaking out against Putin’s regime may have cost people their lives.

Yuri Shchekochikhin (2003)

Investigative journalist and anti-corruption MP – dead at 53

Shchekochikhin was a respected journalist and member of Russia’s parliament investigating corruption within the FSB. Days before he was set to travel to the U.S., he suddenly developed severe symptoms and died. Official cause: a “rare allergic reaction.” Many believe he was poisoned to silence his investigation.

Paul Klebnikov (2004)

American journalist shot down in Moscow

Editor of Forbes Russia, Klebnikov investigated shady business dealings and the mafia’s ties to politics. He was gunned down outside his office. His killers were never definitively identified.

Anna Politkovskaya (2006)

Outspoken journalist gunned down in her own apartment building

Known for her fearless reporting on human rights abuses in Chechnya and sharp criticism of Putin, Politkovskaya was shot dead in the elevator of her Moscow apartment building on Putin’s birthday. The hit bore the hallmarks of a targeted assassination meant to send a message.

Alexander Litvinenko (2006)

Former FSB agent poisoned with radioactive polonium in London

After defecting to the UK, Litvinenko accused Putin of orchestrating terror attacks and political murders. In 2006, he fell violently ill and died after ingesting radioactive polonium-210. A UK inquiry concluded the Russian state was “probably” behind his death – with Putin’s approval.

Natalia Estemirova (2009)

Human rights activist abducted and executed

Estemirova documented torture and abductions in Chechnya, angering local leaders tied closely to the Kremlin. She was kidnapped in broad daylight and found dead hours later with gunshot wounds. No one has been held accountable.

Boris Berezovsky (2013)

Exiled oligarch found dead in the UK

Once a key powerbroker who helped bring Putin to power, Berezovsky turned against the regime and fled to Britain. In 2013, he was found hanged in his bathroom. The coroner ruled the cause “inconclusive,” fueling theories of foul play.

Boris Nemtsov (2015)

Opposition leader murdered steps from the Kremlin

A former deputy prime minister turned fierce Putin critic, Nemtsov was shot four times in the back while walking near the Kremlin. He had been organizing a protest against Russia’s involvement in Ukraine. His murder sent shockwaves through the international community.

Nikolai Glushkov (2018)

Exiled businessman found strangled in London

A close associate of Berezovsky, Glushkov had survived a previous assassination attempt and openly feared for his life. He was found dead in his home with signs of strangulation. British police labeled it a murder, but no suspects were named.

Alexei Navalny (2020–2024)

Russia’s leading opposition figure – poisoned, imprisoned, and dead

Navalny survived a near-fatal poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok in 2020. After recovering in Germany, he returned to Russia – and was immediately imprisoned. In 2024, he died suddenly in a remote Arctic prison. Many world leaders called it murder.

In Putin’s Russia, Speaking Up Can Be a Death Sentence

From journalists and whistleblowers to exiled billionaires and opposition leaders, these nine individuals dared to speak out – and died under chillingly suspicious circumstances.

Whether shot, poisoned, hanged, or abducted, their deaths serve as a grim reminder: in Putin’s Russia, telling the truth can get you killed.