By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Another prominent Russian figure, Vyacheslav Leontyev, the 87-year-old former head of the Pravda publishing house, has died after falling from a window in Moscow. Leontyev’s death, occurring on Saturday evening, is under investigation by police, with possibilities including accident, suicide, or foul play. His passing adds to a concerning pattern of high-profile deaths in Russia, with several other business leaders and officials also dying in similar circumstances in recent years. These incidents have raised suspicions, particularly given the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and potential connections to the Russian elite.
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The news that the publisher of the famous Soviet newspaper Pravda had fallen to his death from a seventh-floor window immediately set off a flurry of reactions, each painting a different picture. It’s hard to ignore the immediate, unavoidable question that pops into mind: how does this keep happening? The details, as they inevitably emerge, are likely to be scrutinized with an extra layer of suspicion, considering the context.
The initial response is often a mix of disbelief and a dark sort of humor. There’s a weariness that comes with hearing about yet another prominent figure meeting such a sudden and improbable end. It’s the morbid joke that’s not really funny anymore, and the jokes reflect a grim reality. The repetitive nature of these events has somehow made the tragedy less shocking and more expected.
This publisher, this high-profile individual, joining the ranks of those who have met their end in a similar fashion. One can almost predict the narrative that will follow: an “unfortunate accident”, perhaps a slip, a moment of carelessness, or a sudden illness. The building codes, or lack thereof, will come under scrutiny, and maybe even a passing mention of the wind.
It’s also important to note the details often missing from the typical “accidental death” scenario. The victim’s age, any existing health conditions, and access to potentially lethal medication are all important considerations. This is not a young person in the prime of their life. It’s an 87-year-old man, more likely to choose a more simple exit than a plummet from the seventh floor.
And this makes it difficult to take the event at face value. Defenestration. That formal word comes to mind, a word that describes a very specific means of departure. This very specific, almost theatrical exit from a window. It’s hard to ignore the thought, is this not the least creative method? You have to wonder how and why this method keeps being used.
The parallels to other cases are impossible to ignore. The regularity with which these incidents seem to occur, all involving high-ranking officials, well-connected individuals, and always windows. This raises questions about the nature of power, the lengths to which those in power will go, and the culture of silence that seems to surround such events.
There’s the feeling that the truth, whatever it may be, is a distant, guarded secret. There is a sense of helplessness, the feeling that something is happening without the possibility of ever getting a real answer.
The name of the newspaper itself, Pravda, translates to “truth.” It’s a cruel irony, isn’t it? The name of the paper is a sad commentary on the situation itself, a reminder of the chasm between what’s presented and what’s actually happening. The fact that Trump named his social media platform “Truth Social” seems like yet another, darker, joke in the face of this reality.
The responses demonstrate a growing skepticism and a wariness towards official explanations, which is justified. The focus shifts to examining the pattern and the implications of this unfortunate trend. The repetition makes one wonder what kind of environment allows such things to happen with such frequency?
The tragedy is amplified by the knowledge that the “window” solution might not always be the most convincing. Even when the circumstances don’t add up. And this makes you question the motives. Why windows? Are there other ways? Why does the choice keep being made?
The conversation, it is to be hoped, will be about more than just the immediate circumstances of this individual’s death. It will focus on the bigger picture: the transparency, accountability, and the future of a society where such incidents can happen without raising more questions than answers. One might even hope for an OSHA team to inspect the windows and the design of the Russian buildings.
It all boils down to a few simple questions: Why windows? Why so many? And most importantly, what does it all mean?