Russia: Journalist Found 'Poisoned' Alongside Ex-Husband

Facts

Zoya Konovalova, 48, chief editor of Russian state TV company Kuban, and her 52-year-old former husband, Andrey Gubatiyka, have been found dead from suspected poisoning.¹
According to Russia's Investigative Committee, Konovalova was found dead by 'law enforcement agencies' in her bedroom, while Gubatiyka's corpse was said to be discovered nearby.¹
The pair, survived by an adult son and a 15-year-old daughter, were presumed to have been dead for at least 24 hours before their bodies were discovered.²
The carcasses reportedly have no visible injuries, while 'a set of verification measures' have been carried out by the investigators to establish the circumstances and causes of the deaths.¹
Meanwhile, Kuban reported that 'the preliminary cause of death is poisoning by an unknown substance,' adding a polymer bag with a 'powdery substance' had been found at Konovalova's home.³
This is the latest in a string of mystery deaths across Russia. Vladimir Sungorkin, the editor-in-chief of Russia's largest pro-Putin newspaper, Komsomolskaya Pravda, died suddenly in 2022, while its deputy editor-in-chief, Anna Tsareva, was found dead in her Moscow home last December.⁴

Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Newsweek. While poisoning is the suspected cause of death, all hypotheses must be given serious consideration — including the possibility that the duo was murdered for personal rivalry. It's too early to reach any conclusions until the Russian investigators' probe has been completed.
Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by The US Sun. Since Moscow invaded Ukraine, Russia has become one of the most dangerous countries for journalists and Pres. Vladimir Putin's critics. Many more will continue to die under unusual circumstances for undermining Putin or daring to go public on sensitive issues.