A prominent Russian tech tycoon was discovered lifeless in his Moscow office on July 22, according to reports. 

As the 40-year-old founder of ICS Holding, Anton Cherepennikov played a crucial role in expanding President Vladimir Putin’s domestic surveillance operations in Russia. 

Initial reports from his company, ICS Holding, point towards cardiac arrest as the cause of death. Yet, unofficial sources from Moscow law enforcement suggest a potential overdose of “medical gas,” indicating Cherepennikov may have accidentally exceeded his medication’s recommended dosage. Also mentioned were three people who visited the businessman in his office the night before he died. Investigations are ongoing.

Cherepennikov faced sanctions from U.S. authorities, who alleged that Citadel, a subsidiary of ICS Holding, crafted software used to illicitly extract sensitive financial and personal data from computer networks. His company’s role in the execution of Russia’s disputed Yarovaya laws, which notably amplified surveillance and data collection activities, cannot be understated.

ICS Holding, known for its connections with Russia’s security services, boasted an impressive consolidated revenue of nearly 91 billion rubles (about $1 billion) in 2022. The sudden death of Cherepennikov is the latest in a series of puzzling fatalities involving Russian oligarchs and business titans, especially following Russia’s incursion into Ukraine in February 2022.