Former Russian commander who blasted Putin for destroying air force found dead with wife

A former commander of Russian air defences General Vladimir Sviridov was found dead, alongside his wife Tatyana,  in their home in the village of Adzhievsky in the Stavropol region under mysterious circumstances. The highly decorated Lieutenant General and his wife had reportedly been dead for approximately a week before their bodies were found. According to the media reports, General Sviridov had previously criticised Vladimir Putin, expressing concerns about the state of the Air Force and the departure of top officers due to poor pay and conditions. The cause of their death remains undetermined, as Russian authorities have been unable to ascertain it, according to local media. Preliminary reports suggested that gas service workers detected no harmful substances exceeding permissible concentrations in their homes. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Vladimir and Tatyana Sviridov are still unknown. Sviridov retired from his commander’s role at the age of 54 after making critical public comments about the Russian armed forces. The 68-year-old lieutenant general had an extensive military background, graduating from the Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School, the Air Force Academy, and the Military Academy of the general staff. He served in various capacities, including as a pilot, flight commander, squadron commander, and leading the 6th Army until 2009.