A prominent Russian tech tycoon was discovered lifeless in his Moscow office on July 22, according to reports.
Anton Cherepennikov, the 40-year-old entrepreneur known for founding the IT company ICS Holding, had significantly aided President Vladimir Putin’s expansion of domestic surveillance operations in Russia.
According to statements from his company, ICS Holding, Cherepennikov’s preliminary cause of death was attributed to cardiac arrest.
However, sources from Moscow law enforcement indicated that the businessman had reportedly overdosed on “medical gas.” Reports suggest that Cherepennikov might have unintentionally exceeded the prescribed dosage of his medication. But contributing to the mystery, three guests visited the tycoon in his office the night before his death. Investigations into the cause of his death are still ongoing.
Cherepennikov had been under the radar of the United States authorities, who had imposed sanctions on him due to allegations that Citadel, a part of ICS Holding, developed software used for illicitly extracting financial and personal data from computer networks.
Notably, Citadel played a crucial role in implementing Russia’s contentious Yarovaya laws, enacted in 2016 under the guise of anti-terrorism measures. The laws greatly enhanced surveillance powers and data collection within Russia, and ICS Holding, due to its ties with the government, benefited financially once the law was implemented in 2018.
The late tycoon’s company, ICS Holding, known to have affiliations with Russia’s security services, had achieved substantial consolidated revenue of 91 billion rubles (nearly $1 billion) in 2022.
Cherepennikov’s death adds to the growing list of mysterious fatalities involving Russian oligarchs and business magnates following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Igor Kudryakov, another prominent Russian businessman, was also found dead in his Moscow apartment a week before, adding to the list.
As the investigation into Cherepennikov’s untimely death continues, the circumstances remain shrouded in uncertainty and speculation, leaving many unanswered questions.