Grigory Nekhoroshev, the veteran Russian journalist who famously leaked early reports of Vladimir Putin’s secret relationship with an Olympic gymnast, has died in Latvia under highly scrutinised circumstances.
The 69-year-old editor passed away in Riga, Latvia, where he had been living in political exile for over a decade after fleeing state pressure in Russia.
According to local reports from friends and colleagues, Nekhoroshev—an avid mushroom forager—tragically and accidentally consumed toxic wild mushrooms gathered right from his own yard.
The bombshell report that shook the Kremlin
Nekhoroshev made global headlines in 2008 as the editor-in-chief of Moskovsky Korrespondent. Under his leadership, the newspaper published a massive, unprecedented report claiming that President Vladimir Putin was planning to secretly divorce his then-wife, Lyudmila, to marry glamorous Olympic rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabaeva.
The publication sparked an immediate political firestorm inside Russia, resulting in:
A Furious Denial: Putin publicly blasted the report, famously mocking critics with “erotic fantasies” who stuck their noses into his private life.
Swift Retaliation: Within days of hitting newsstands, the independent Moskovsky Korrespondent was abruptly shut down by its wealthy owner under heavy government pressure.
A Life in Exile: Facing severe safety threats, Nekhoroshev ultimately fled Russia to seek political refuge in Latvia.
A history of “unusual” deaths
While Latvian authorities are currently treating the incident as a tragic foraging mishap with no immediate evidence of foul play, the journalist’s passing has raised immediate eyebrows across international media.
“He was active, completely healthy, and full of plans for the future,” one colleague noted, adding that Nekhoroshev had frequently expressed lingering fears for his personal safety while living abroad.
The Kremlin has a well-documented, dark history of prominent critics, opposition figures, and independent journalists dying under bizarre or highly suspicious circumstances abroad—ranging from rare chemical poisonings to unexplained falls.
Investigators in Riga are continuing a thorough forensic review to determine the exact toxicity of the mushrooms involved, as international human rights watchdogs keep a close eye on the developing case.
