The death of a russian ballet star due to an accident in which he fell from the fifth floor from the balcony, he joined the list of opponents of the regime over the weekend. Vladimir Putin who lost their lives in strange circumstances. Although it was announced as a domestic accident, the event contains the typical nuances of the death pattern of the most open dissidents of the Kremlin.
According to official reports, Vladimir Shklyarovone of the most prominent ballet dancers in Russialost his life last Saturday at the age of 39 after falling from the fifth floor of a building in Saint Petersburg. Shklyarov was not only recognized for his talent and belonging to the outstanding Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburgbut for his open opposition to the regime of Putin and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, exposed in a publication on the social network Instagram that was later deleted.
“I am against any war… I don’t want wars or borders!” he wrote. Although his position was more moderate than that of other artists such as Olga Smirnovawho abandoned Russia in protest, his message was significant in a context of increasing repression.
Shklyarov died after falling from the balcony of his home last Saturday, a narrow space from where he came out “to smoke and get some air,” according to the dancer. Irina Baranovskayawho called the incident “a stupid and unbearable accident.” Authorities have launched an investigationalthough so far no political motives have been linked to the event.
At the time of his death, Shklyarov was facing health problems. He was taking painkillers for a back injury and had spinal surgery scheduled for the following Monday.
Born in Leningradactual Saint Petersburgon February 9, 1985, Shklyarov began his training at the prestigious Vaganova Russian Ballet Academyschool associated with the renowned Mariinsky Theatrewhich he joined in 2003. At just 26 years old, he reached the rank of principal dancer, establishing himself as one of the brightest stars of classical ballet.
During his 20-year career, Shklyarov accumulated numerous awards, including the Vaganova-Prix in 2002, the Leonid Massine International Award in 2008 and the BALLET2000 in 2016. In 2020, he was recognized as Honored Artist of Russiaa title that underlines his impact on the world of dance.
His repertoire included iconic roles such as Prince Siegfried in Swan LakeBasilio in Don Quixoteand Prince Desired in sleeping beauty. He was also celebrated for his performances in contemporary productions such as Alice in Wonderlandof Christopher Wheeldon.
Internationally, Shklyarov shone as a guest artist in renowned theaters, including the Metropolitan Opera in New Yorkhe Royal Opera House, London and the Royal Ballet. In 2017, it replaced Sergei Polunin in Marguerite y Armand of the choreographer Frederick Ashtonreaffirming its versatility and global prestige.
The funeral of Vladimir Shklyarov will take place on Thursday at the Mariinsky Theatreaccompanied by a religious service and his burial in Saint Petersburg. His loss leaves a void not only on the world ballet stagebut also in the debate on the relationship between art, politics and freedom of expression in Russia.
Companions and admirers paid tribute to the dancer. The dancer Diana Vishnevahis partner in Mariinskyexpressed: “This tragedy only brings tears and sadness… My beautiful Romeo, my brave Prince.”
For his part, the American Ballet Theatrewhere Shklyarov worked as a guest, remembered him as “an extraordinary artist whose grace and passion inspired audiences around the world.”
Since Putin took power in 2000, a long list of opponents, journalists, businessmen and former spies have died in disturbing conditions. The circumstances of their deathsmarked by exotic poisons, gunshots, falls and apparent accidents, share a common denominator: a previous confrontation with the Kremlin.
One of the most recent cases is that of the activist Alexei Navalnywho died in February of this year in a Russian maximum security prison.
Navalny was serving a 19-year prison sentence on charges of “extremism” in an Arctic penal colony. His death by poisoning on February 16, aged 47, sparked widespread condemnation, with many blaming Putin.
Boris Nemtsovone of the first to denounce the erosion of freedoms since the arrival to power in Russia of Putinwas shot dead in 2015, a day before leading a march against Russian involvement in Ukraine. Alexander Litvinenkoformer member of FSBdied poisoned by radioactive polonium in 2006 after accusing the Kremlin of state crimes. Years later, in 2018, the former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter survived a nerve agent murder attempt in Englandan attack that London directly attributed to Moscow.
The critical press has not escaped this lethal pattern either. Anna Politkovskayanotable for denouncing the abuses of Russian army in Chechnyawas shot to death in 2006 in front of her home in Moscow. Three years later, his colleague Natalia Estemirova She was found dead in a forest near her house. Other names like Yuri Shchekochikhin, Anastasia Baburova y Stanislav Markelov They join the list of communicators who paid with their lives to challenge power.
In the business world, luck has not been different. Boris Berezovskyone of the first oligarchs to confront Putinwas found dead in 2013 in his home in United Kingdominitially classified as suicide. Years later, the autopsy of Nikolai Glushkovanother critic of Kremlinrevealed signs of strangulation after an alleged suicide.
The death of Yevgeny Prigozhin In August 2023, he made it clear that not even the closest collaborators of Putin They can be safe once they decide to abandon the cause.
The private plane in which the mercenary leader and former ally of Vladimir Putin crashed in the region of captures of Moscowkilling all ten people on board, Russian emergency services said Wednesday.
The head of the Grupo Wagnera private military corporation serving the Kremlinhad faced Putin and the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu because of how the invasion was developing Ukraineof which he was a part. Since then, his whereabouts had been a constant source of speculation, until he finally died.
In 2022, the director of the oil company I locked it, Ravil Maganovfell from a window of the Central Clinical Hospital of Moscow. Cases like that of Ivan Pechorinwho allegedly fell overboard from a yacht, and several executives from Gazprom y Gazprombanksuggest that the danger does not distinguish ranks in the circle of influence of Putin.
