Putin general ‘dies suddenly’ aged 61 after he was set to become key witness in Kremlin corruption scandal

A TOP Putin crony who was to be a key witness in a major Kremlin corruption scandal has “suddenly” died under mysterious circumstances.

Russian general Magomed Khandayev, 61, was head of the State Expertise Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defence.

East2West

Russian Colonel-General Magomed Khandayev, 61, has ‘suddenly’ died[/caption]

East2West

Khandayev worked for sacked defence minister Timur Ivanov, pictured left[/caption]

He worked under deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov, 48, who was dramatically arrested on suspicion of £9 million corruption schemes – and remains in custody.

Khandayev was seen as a key witness in a corruption scandal shrouding the Russian defence ministry amid Putin’s illegal war against Ukraine.

His body was flown to Moscow to his home region of Dagestan for burial, according to reports.

The cause of Khandayev’s death has not been specified.

A Russian news outlet said Khandayev had a “close connection with high-ranking officials whose activities have recently attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies.”

It added: “[His death] raises questions, especially against the backdrop of recent ‘clean-ups’ among senior leaders of the Ministry of Defence related to corruption scandals.

“The death of the general will certainly become a convenient occasion for those who seek to cover up the traces of corruption schemes in the Ministry of Defence.”

“Now that Khandayev, who potentially has important information, can no longer testify, many cases may be closed or reconsidered, thereby avoiding further investigations and possible charges against high-ranking officials.”

MYSTERY DEATHS

Khandayev now joins the string of unexplained deaths of leading Russian figures under mysterious circumstances.

Last month, a prominent female judge was found dead after falling from a Moscow high-rise building.

Natalia Larina, 50, was notorious for handling high-profile political and criminal cases, punishing traitors of the Kremlin.

She had been a criminal judge for more than 15 years – and had a reputation for ruling verdicts on cases against opposition political activists.

In December 2023, Vladimir Egorov, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, plunged to his death from a third-floor window in Moscow.

The 46-year-old Egorov was a wealthy and prominent politician in oil-rich Tobolsk in western Siberia.

Just weeks prior, the deputy editor of Putin’s favourite propaganda newspaper was found dead aged only 35.

The body of Anna Tsareva, 35, was discovered at her home in the capital’s Bolshoy Tishinsky Lane – nearly a year after the death of her boss Vladimir Sungorkin, 68.

In February the same year, top Russian defence official and key figure in the funding of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine Marina Yankina, 58, also fell 160ft to her death in St Petersburg.

She was head of the financial support department of the Ministry of Defence for the Western Military District, which is closely involved in the dictator’s invasion.

Earlier this year, the chief editor of the warmonger’s state-run TV empire was also discovered lifeless after a suspected poisoning.

Zoya Konovalova, 48, who ran a channel operating near the frontlines of Mad Vlad’s illegal war, was found alongside her ex-husband.

Last July, a multi-millionaire stooge for Putin mysteriously died in his office.

Anton Cherepennikov, 40, a key figure in Putin’s spying operation, was discovered at the property in Moscow.

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