Sinister Trend? Russian Oil Executive's 'Sudden' Death Adds to Patter of Fatalities at Company

The list of deceased executives from one of Russia’s largest oil companies continues to grow, sparking suspicions and speculation.

Lukoil announced recently the sudden death of Vice President Vitaly Robertus, aged 54, describing him as a “talented leader, a versatile person and a sympathetic comrade" in their statement.

However, Robertus' death is shrouded in uncertainty, with several Telegram channels, as reported by Newsweek, suggesting that he was discovered "hanged" in his office, potentially indicating suicide.

The ASTRA channel mentioned that Robertus had complained of headaches before his death, while the VChK-OGPU channel indicated that he was seen in good health and sound mind prior to the incident.

Former Ukrainian government adviser Anton Gerashchenko, citing an unnamed source, claimed that Senior Vice President Oleg Pashaev found Robertus in a private bathroom after knocking on his office door.

Allegations surfaced that Robertus had expressed distress over alleged perceived stalking by Pashaev, adding complexity to the situation. Employees reportedly described a tense atmosphere at Lukoil preceding the incident, indicating heightened stress levels.

Gerashchenko further suggested a correlation between Robertus' death and recent developments in the oil industry, highlighting increased gasoline prices in Russia attributed to Ukrainian drone attacks on oil depots, as Front Page Detectives previously reported.

The ban on gas exports since March 1 added to the economic strain.

Despite Robertus' longstanding tenure at Lukoil, having served for over 30 years and garnering recognition for his hobbies such as model plane design and flying, observers are left questioning whether a pattern of fatalities among top officials at the company exists, particularly since the onset of Russia's conflict with Ukraine 25 months prior.

Knewz.com previously reported on the death of Lukoil's chairman of the board, Vladimir Nekrasov, in October 2023, attributing it to "acute heart failure."

This followed the suspicious circumstances surrounding the demise of Chairman Ravil Maganov in the summer of 2022, who allegedly fell from a hospital window while undergoing treatment.

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Alexander Subbotin, another former executive, also passed away in May 2022, with rumors circulating about the cause, including allegations of poisoning.

Speculation arises as to the motives behind these incidents, with one theory claiming Lukoil's advocacy for negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine as a potential point of contention. While Russian authorities have since embraced diplomatic efforts, Lukoil's stance was once viewed as dissent against President Vladimir Putin's leadership.

Lukoil's presence extends beyond Russia, with operations in several states in the U.S. after acquiring Getty Oil in 2000, indicating a broader impact of the company's internal affairs and its potential geopolitical ramifications.