Killing of Kremlin critic is latest in spate of opposition deaths
On Thursday, a onetime Communist member of Russia’s lower house of parliament was shot dead outside a hotel in Ukraine in broad daylight. Denis Voronenkov, a Kremlin critic, fled to Ukraine last year. He is the latest in a string of Russian critics of President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government who were killed or injured under mysterious circumstances. Voronenkov and his wife both spoke out against Putin after they left Russia. Voronenkov also helped Ukraine in its ongoing fight against Russia influence. Ukraine’s president called the killing “a Russian state terrorist act.” The brazen daytime slaying also brings to eight the number of high-profile Russians who have died over the past five months since the U.S. presidential election. Among the recent deaths were five Russian diplomats. Some of the deaths appeared natural, and governments have ruled out foul play. In some cases, though, questions remain.