Famed Russian chef, a Putin critic who owned a restaurant in London, found dead in Belgrade

Summary

Russian chef Alexei Zimin, a vocal critic of Moscow’s war in Ukraine, was found dead in his Belgrade apartment while visiting to promote his new book.

Zimin, who has lived in London since opposing Russia’s actions in Crimea in 2014, had publicly condemned the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Zimin’s death adds to a series of mysterious fatalities among Kremlin critics, fueling concerns over Russia’s global reach and intimidation tactics against dissenters.