Putin in Panic? Body of Russian Diplomat Found, Adding to Series of Mysterious High-Ranking Russian Officials' Deaths

Konstantin Alekseev, a distinguished diplomat whose body was discovered at his Moscow residence by his wife, is the latest person to pass in a recent string of unexplained deaths among high-ranking individuals in the country.

According to Top Cargo 200, Alekseev, who had previously been given a clean bill of health, reportedly suffered a sudden and severe stroke that led to his death.

Conflicting reports from Shot Media, as reported by The Sun, however, suggest that the investigation into the cause of Alekseev's death is currently underway.

The events leading up to Alekseev's death unfolded on the evening of Dec. 11 when he expressed feelings of being sick and retired early for the evening.

Alekseev, 63, had enjoyed a notable career as a diplomat, with a significant tenure as the Russian consul-general in Rasht, Iran, where he held the position of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Second Class, overseeing trade relations between Iran and Russia for four years.

Alekseev's death adds to a growing list of sudden and unexplained deaths within Moscow's elite.

On Dec. 2, Senator Vladimir Lebedev, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, passed away, reportedly due to a heart attack.

Like Alekseev, Lebedev was reportedly in good health before his demise, Knewz.com reported.

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On Nov. 16, Lieutenant General Vladimir Sviridov, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, met a similar fate, with his demise accompanied by accusations of dire military conditions and criticism of Putin's leadership.

An investigation by Knewz found that at least 55 officials, oligarchs, rivals and scientists have died in violent or suspicious circumstances, suggesting a possible trend of the erasure of perceived enemies by the Putin administration.