These are confusing times. Recently, Russia has seen several deaths shrouded in ambiguity, leaving everyone clueless about what’s happening. Now, another well-known Russian figure (Ravil Maganov) has passed away. The ‘liberal media’ is simply labeling it as a ‘suicide’.
But, there are some dark clouds of suspicion. This recent trend of suspicious suicides is being committed by those who are stakeholders in geopolitical histories and, more crucially, in rivalries among world powers.
This is the story of a man who had once sparked unrest in the west and was possibly in the crosshairs of secret authorities.
The chairman of Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil, Ravil Maganov passed away on Thursday after mysteriously falling from a hospital window in Moscow. According to Russian agencies, Ravil Maganov committed suicide after he was admitted to the hospital due to a heart attack.
The Global Media is simply marching around the flag and labeling his sudden demise as suicide.
In the midst of his death, colleagues of Ravil Maganov lamented his departure and reminded everyone that it was because of Ravil Maganov that Lukoil became a juggernaut private firm in Russia.
Even Lukoil in its statement stresses that it was Maganov’s managerial talent that it had evolved into one of the world’s largest energy firms.
Ravil Maganov started working for the private oil company in 1993 and he became chairman of the company just two years ago. Furthermore, he was given a lifetime achievement award by President Vladimir Putin for his constant devotion to Lukoil’s expansion.
His sudden death comes as a shock to Russians. A leader with such an immense career and contribution has all of a sudden left the company in the doldrums. However, he is not the first such Russian to commit ‘suicide’.
A chain of Suicides
After the start of the Ukraine war, you might be surprised to know that many Russian oligarchs have committed suicide before Ravil Maganov, and that too under suspicious circumstances. At least six other Russian businessmen, most with ties to the energy industry, have died suddenly in the past few months. Some of them are:
- Novatek’s former manager Sergei Protosenya was found dead alongside his wife and daughter at a Spanish villa in April
- former vice-president of Gazprombank, Vladislav Avayev, was found dead with his wife and daughter in their Moscow flat, also in April
- Whereas, Lukoil tycoon Alexander Subbotin was also found dead due to heart failure, reportedly after seeking alternative treatment in May
Yet, Ravil Maganov’s sudden death remains an exception as he was close to Putin and responsible for Lukoil’s massive expansion in the west.
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Lukoil’s expansion and the concern for West
Under Ravil Maganov, Lukoil expanded tremendously. The company expanded seemingly in nations like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Italy, Mexico, several African nations, and The United States. Lukoil had active refineries in Europe before the Ukraine war.
Lukoil had plans to become a major energy company in the United States. The company entered the USA back in 2003 at a former Getty gas station on Manhattan’s 10th Avenue.
At that time, then Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), celebrated Lukoil’s takeover with Vladimir Putin with the hope that the United States would finally break free from dependence on OPEC nations. Later on, Lukoil started to expand its foothold in America.
Years later, Lukoil quickly acquired hundreds more gas stations, primarily Exxon Mobil outlets in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, due to antitrust concerns. This was also a moment when Pentagon has alerts ringing through its corridors due to Lukoil’s fast expansion.
Later on, it got revealed that Lukoil has plans to build an oil refinery in the United States and ship oil straight from Russia — which would give it a pricing advantage. This was the exact moment when Lukoil became one of the US’ biggest nemesis.
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West’s surgical strike on Lukoil
In 2014, the US sanctioned Ravil Maganov and other entities restricting Lukoil’s expansion. The sanctions barred the provision of certain services and advanced technologies to Lukoil and several other Russian energy companies.
The US took a complete U-turn over the company citing that Lukoil is up to no good and it wants to take control of the country. The west even sparked speculations that Lukoil is an acquisition target for Rosneft. So, the company would eventually get state-backed.
Lukoil didn’t give up. Despite the sanctions, the business maintained its commitment, and finally, on the first day of the Ukraine War in 2022, Lukoil struck another agreement in the United States distressing the Pentagon.
Lukoil through a third-party deal of $435 million-plus purchased a shallow-water oil and gas field in Mexico’s Bay of Campeche.
Assassination!!
The US’s sole goal for many years was to weaken Russia’s energy industry. However, despite tremendous efforts, it has failed miserably. The expansion of Lukoil is one such example. However, America always has a card up its sleeves.
People who attempted to take a stand against America have either been slain or assassinated. Either by invasion or by secret authorities like the CIA.
The CIA has attempted to assassinate prominent international leaders. One such significant incident is the Assassination attempt of late Fidel Castro, the president of Cuba.
Since 1945, the US intelligence service has been successful in assassinating or deposing several leaders in various parts of the world, either directly or, more frequently, via the use of dissidents, local criminals, or friendly local soldiers.
America is aware that if you kill a rival’s golden goose, he will never be able to succeed. Ravil Maganov was one such golden goose for Russia. Nevertheless, according to Russia, this was simply another suicide. However, due to the US’s dark history of infamous assassination attempts, everything continues to be shrouded in mystery.
What could be the truth, we leave it upon You.
