08 January 2024 , 19:49
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A mystery fire has severely damaged the house of Vladimir Putin’s cousin 125 miles southeast of Moscow.
Videos show flames rising from the building home of Roman Putin, 45, who is sanctioned by the West for links to the autocrat. The cause of the inferno in Ryazan is under investigation by law enforcement amid suspicions of sabotage. It is the second property linked to the controversial businessman tied by blood to the Kremlin president.
Earlier a hotel where he had offices in remote Novy Urengoy was destroyed in successive arson attacks by unknown people causing £8 million damage. It is unclear if the arson was linked to opposition to Vladimir Putin or his war. Roman is the son of Putin’s first cousin Igor Putin, to whom the house was officially registered. Roman’s son was at the property when the blaze began and escaped without injury. Roman was reported to have been away but returned after being informed about the fire.
Like the dictator, Roman began his career in secret services, serving in the FSB once headed by Vladimir Putin. He switched to local government before founding a company called Putin Consulting to trade on the famous family name. He founded a party called People Against Corruption and has unsuccessfully run for a seat in parliament.
The home belonging to Putin's cousin Roman, 45, after catching fire in Ryazan, Russia (social media/e2w)
Roman has been sanctioned for his links to Putin (social media/e2w)The hotel arson came after Roman was linked to a scheme to host two waves of refugees from the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine, say reports. He offered to personally fund a third wave of 500 refugees in support of the dictator’s invasion, which may have triggered the arson attacks.
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Reports say law enforcement has identified arson as the cause but made no progress in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Investigators examining the cause of the Putin home blaze saw faulty wiring may also be a cause.