Death of top Russian oil executive fuels fresh scrutiny of elite’s ‘window falls’

In Russia’s corridors of power, windows have become strangely dangerous. The recent death of oil executive Andrei Badalov—after falling from his Moscow apartment—adds to a growing list of elites who’ve met similar fates. While officials often call them suicides, analysts and critics see a chilling pattern: dissent met with defenestration. From tycoons to lawmakers, and even musicians, the message appears unmistakable—step out of line, and you might just fall out of it. This piece from the Kyiv Independent explores the grim trend behind Russia’s silent purge.