Russian Ballet Dancer Critical of Putin Falls to His Death
Russian ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov died on Saturday after falling from the fifth floor of a building.
The preliminary cause of death was labeled as an accident, with Russian authorities launching an investigation, according to RIA Novosti, a Russian state media outlet.
CNN reported that he died two days before he was going to have “complex spinal surgery” and was on “serious painkillers.”
In Feb. 2022, at the beginning of Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, the dancer spoke out against the violence. “I am against the war in Ukraine! I am for the people, for a peaceful sky over my head! Politicians should be able to negotiate without shooting and killing civilians, for that they are given their tongue and head,” he was quoted as saying by Russian-Ukrainian former ballet dancer Alexei Ratmansky on Facebook.
“It is impossible to watch everything that is happening today without tears… I wanna dance… I want to love everyone—that’s the purpose of my life… I do not want wars, no borders.”
Multiple Vladimir Putin adversaries have died after falling from windows. The term “Sudden Russian Death Syndrome” was born after many notable Russian figureheads who have spoken out against Putin’s reign died in puzzling ways. One of the most common causes of the deaths are window falls.
“Some two dozen notable Russians have died in 2022 in mysterious ways,” wrote The Atlantic in 2022. “After all, this is what the Kremlin does. There is precedent for this phenomenon.”
Notable deaths include Pavel Antov, who fell from a window at an Indian hotel two days after his Russian travel companion died (at the same hotel); Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko, who was poisoned; and Russian defense official Marina Yankina, who fell 160 feet and died in St. Petersburg in 2023.
Shklyarov, meanwhile, worked at the Mariinsky Theater as a principal dancer, the highest ranking position.
“It is with profound sadness that the Mariinsky Theatre announces the untimely passing of principal dancer Vladimir Shklyarov. Mr Shklyarov, a beloved artist and audience favourite, died tragically on 16 November,” wrote the theater on their website. “His loss is deeply felt by the entire Mariinsky family and the wider ballet world.”
Shklyarov, 39, was married to Maria Shirinkina, another dancer at the theater. The pair had a son and daughter.
Under his last Instagram post from Nov. 4, fans from across the world mourned the loss of the dancer.
“My dream was to visit Saint Petersburg one day and see his performance there,” wrote one commenter.
“I’m truly heartbroken – most terrifying news,” wrote another. “One of the most beautiful dancers of our time.”
The American Ballet Theatre also took to Instagram to commemorate the star.
“Today, we mourn the tragic loss of Vladimir Shklyarov, an extraordinary artist whose grace and passion inspired audiences worldwide,” wrote the organization. “Rest in peace, Vladimir. Your light will continue to shine through the beauty you brought to this world.”
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