Latvia probes mushroom death of exiled Russian journalist who revealed Putin affair

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Listen to this article — Latvia probes mushroom death of exiled Russian journalist who revealed Putin affair

The journalist who exposed President Vladimir Putin’s secret relationship with an Olympic gymnast has died in Latvia, reportedly after consuming poisonous mushrooms.

Grigory Nekhoroshev, 69, had been living in exile for more than a decade after fleeing Russia, fearing for his safety, Latvian outlet Delfi reported.

He was found dead at his home in the Latvian capital Riga on June 19, according to the outlet. He is believed to have eaten mushrooms he had picked from his own garden, which were later identified as poisonous.

Igors Vatoļins, who had seen Nekhoroshev shortly before his death, said he had shown no signs of illness and remained active.

“Nekhoroshev was the first to reveal the name of Putin’s common-law wife, rhythmic gymnastics champion Alina Kabaeva. Putin clearly did not forgive him for that,” Vatoļins said, Delfi reported.

Nekhoroshev was the former editor of Moskovsky Korrespondent, the newspaper that published the 2008 report, the Daily Mail reported.

The front page of Moskovsky Korrespondent that in 2008 reported that Putin planned to divorce his then wife.

After the report was released the Moskovsky Korrespondent closed, which was then owned by businessman and former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev.

Despite being regarded as knowledgeable about mushrooms, it appears Nekhoroshev may have misidentified the species, Metro UK reported.

There is no evidence pointing to Putin being responsible, but many people who oppose the leader have died in suspicious circumstances, like former opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an arctic prison in 2024.

One online commenter on the news dug up an old Russian joke:

“A businessman died from mushroom poisoning,” a man said.

“But why his face is all bruised?!” asked another.

“Well, he didn’t want to eat them,” the man said.

Nekhoroshev died on June 19 in Riga, Latvia's capital, where he had lived for 11 years as a political refugee. Photo / Grigory Nekhoroshev

Fellow Russian journalist Bozhena Rynska, who is also based in Latvia, described his death as “incomprehensible”, Metro UK reported.

Nekhoroshev had labelled himself a “personal enemy” of Putin after revealing details of the Russian leader’s private life.

At the time, Putin responded to the reports condemning “those who with their snotty noses and erotic fantasies prowl into others’ lives”, according to the Daily Mail.

The Russian leader has never formally confirmed the relationship with Kabaeva, now 43, although the pair are believed to have two children together, Ivan, 11, and Vladimir, 7.

Latvian authorities are yet to make any public statement on the death, with an autopsy to be carried out.