Multi-millionaire property mogul Mikhail Kenin – who created Russia’s largest property development firm – was apparently healthy when he died aged just 56
A Russian businessman with close ties to Putin officials has mysteriously died aged just 56.
Multi-millionaire property mogul Mikhail Kenin was apparently healthy and his cause of death has not been officially disclosed. The “preliminary assessment” of doctors was that he suffered “acute heart failure” according to business news paper Vedomosti.
His is the latest in a series of mysterious deaths of leading figures in Russia since shortly before the start of the war against Ukraine. Reports have linked Mr Kenin to Putin’s defence minister at the start of the war, Sergei Shoigu. It comes as a woman vanishes in car crash – then turns up months later with wild story.
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Mr Shoigu is now secretary of the Kremlin’s powerful security council – but is seen as out of favour with the Russian dictator. Numerous senior Shoigu officials at the defence ministry have been fired or accused of corruption and arrested.
His deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov was last month sentenced to 13 years in jail for embezzlement, money laundering, and related corruption charges.
Mr Kenin was also linked to the family of wealthy Moscow region governor Andrey Vorobyov. Rumours say the businessman acted as holder of the secret fortunes of some senior Russian officials.
He made his fortune from his major stake in Samolet Group, which was at one point worth more than $1 billion. Today there was swirling speculation that the group’s valuable assets could be swallowed by in-favour members of the Putin circle.
Samolet announced Mr Kenin’s death at only 56 without explaining the cause. It said: “We are sad to confirm that [on Sunday] entrepreneur and investor Mikhail Kenin passed away.”
The firm said he was “one of those people who leave their mark on the earth… a rare person, gifted with natural talents, an excellent organiser and successful entrepreneur… ready to take risks and make difficult decisions.”
Mr Kenin had created Russia’s largest property development firm. It is known he had been trying to dispose of his shares when he mysteriously died.
Ukrainian political analyst Ivan Yakovina claimed: “The Kremlin forbade anyone from buying them. Now, apparently, they will go to new owners for free.”
Mr Kenin’s heir is apparently his socialite daughter Michelle, 32, a former tennis player, who lives in London and Dubai.
Russian independent Telegram channel VChK-OGPU alleged Kenin was a “nominee of the Shoigu clan”. It said he had “suddenly passed away” and “whether this death is accidental or a logical continuation of the company’s problems will be revealed over time”.
It added: “For a long time, Kenin was unable to sell his share in Samolet, as the investment environment and the negative atmosphere around the company clearly hindered this.
“If Samolet announces its ‘landing’ [with a new owner] in the near future, no one will be surprised.”