Russia: Energy giant Lukoil’s CEO Vitaly Robertus dies of asphyxiation, body found hanging in office

Vitaly Robertus, the vice president of the Russia’s oil and gas giant Lukoil has allegedly died by suicide in his office. The petroleum organisation says Robertus died on March 12, 2024 as reported by an international media agency.

“Vitaly Robertus, the Deputy CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Russia’s largest oil company Lukoil has suddenly died. He was 53 years old,” Ukrainian-American economist Roman Sheremeta tweeted without giving a reason behind his death. “Any guesses regarding the cause of death?” he posted on X.

According to local media reports, Robertus, just before his death, complained of headaches and asked for medication before going to office. He was later found hanging in his office room. “He didn’t leave for several hours and didn’t answer his phone. The employees decided to go to his office and found his body.

The top manager died by suicide due to asphyxia. He had worked at the company for thirty years, a Telegram user posted on Robertus death. Robertus is the fourth Lukoil manager and the latest in the lengthy list of business tycoons to suddenly die under mysterious circumstances since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, the international media agency reported. In March 2022, Robertus publicly and deeply criticised the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Earlier in May 2022, the Lukoil’s top manager, the 43-year-old Alexander Subbotin was found dead in the basement of a house in Mytishchi town. He allegedly died of drug induced heart attack.

Later, in September 2022, Lukoil’s former chairman, the 67-year-old Ravil Maganov died after falling from a window at Moscow Central Clinical Hospital. In late October 2023, Vladimir Nekrasov, the chairman of Lukoil’s board, died of what the company said was heart failure at the age of 66.