Another Russian tycoon has been found dead under mysterious circumstances.
Billionaire Alexander Subbotin, 43, a former top executive with Kremlin-friendly energy giant Lukoil, is the latest in a number of high profile, suspicious deaths since Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine.
The mogul had sought the advice of shamans to cure a hangover, according to the official version of events, but his death comes as the deaths of other prominent tycoons are under the spotlight which critics of Putin’s regime say could be murders.
The oligarch, who owned a lucrative shipping company, was reportedly treated with toad venom – put into an incision that had been made in his skin. Soon afterwards, Subbotin had a heart attack and was given a tranquilliser from the herb valerian.
The next morning he was found dead by male and female shamans Magua Flores (real name Alexey Pindyurin) and Tina Cordoba (Kristina Teikhrib), according to local reports citing the version of events shared by Russian law enforcement.
The pair reportedly treat clients by summoning the spirits, sacrificing animals and bathing them in cockerel blood.
Separately, the two controversial shamans – or traditional healers and diviners of spirits – are embroiled in accusations that they abused a makeup artist and blogger during a trip to Mexico last year.
They told state investigators that Subbotin was a friend and denied that they subjected him to shamanic rituals for payment.
Subbotin, reported by REN TV to be a billionaire, was a board member of Lukoil Trading House LLC, then became the owner of the New Transport Company (NTK) on the shores of the Gulf of Finland.
Hellbound and Down 