Putin's closest ally Vladimir Sungorkin dies 'immediately' during a business trip

Russian President Vlimir Putin got anor blow as one of his closest allies and editor-in-chief of pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, Vlimir Nikolayevich Sungorkin, died on Wednesday. According to a report by state-run Interfax news agency, 68-year-old journalist h suffered a stroke while on a business trip to Khabarovsk territory in Russia's far east. "Nikolayevich died. A stroke was suspected. He was on a business trip in Khabarovsk Territory. Now we are organizing his removal to Moscow," Alexander Gamov, a columnist said.

In a statement posted on Telegram messaging application, Komsomolskaya Pravda said its editor-in-chief died immediately after suffering a major attack. "Sungorkin h died suddenly during a trip to collect material for a book about great pioneer of Far East, Vlimir Arseniev," it said.  Notably, tabloid was founded in 1925 and is described as one of President Putin's favourite papers. publication was also official voice of Central Committee of Komsomol which was more often called a communist youth league.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in a statement released on Wednesday termed his death a great loss for Moscow and ded Kremil h expressed its condolences. "Today is s news, unfortunately, Sungorkin passed away. We knew him very well," he said and ded President would send a personal message to Sungorkin's friends and family.

Who was Putin's closest ally Vlimir Sungorkin?

Born on June 16, 1954, in Khabarovsk, Sungorkin started his career at Komsomolskaya Pravda as a reporter. Later, he worked with  newspaper Sovetskaya Rossiya. He h been associated with Komsomolskaya Pravda since 1997. According to Interfax, Sungorkin was awarded Order of Merit for Farland, IV degree, in 2014. In 2018 he was granted title "Honored Journalist of Russian Federation." In April, when European Commission sanctioned several Russian public figures for its action against Ukraine, he was also included in list. "Vlimir Sungorkin is disseminating and legitimising aggressive anti-Ukraine and anti-Western propaganda of Putin regime under direct Kremlin authority in one of Russia's most popular media outlets," Commission said in a statement. 

Image: AP