Vladimir Putin's missing defence minister 'suffers heart attack not from natural causes'
Leonid Nevzlin, 62, an exiled prominent Russian businessman alleges Sergei Shoigu, could be left 'disabled if he survives' and is currently in intensive care
A Russian defence minister has suffered a massive heart attack that is thought to not be from natural causes, a prominent Russian businessman has alleged.
Leonid Nevzlin, 62, an enemy of Vladimir Putin also said that Sergei Shoigu, 66, is "out of the game" and could be left "disabled if he survives" and is currently "in intensive care, connected to the devices".
He further alleged that 20 defence ministry generals have been detained in a growing £7.6billion "corruption" case that saw the arrest of 150 Federal Security Service (FSB) officers.
The exiled former co-owner of oil giant Yukos attributed the extraordinary claims to his unspecified sources in Moscow. It has not been independently confirmed.
One theory could be that potential coup-plotters are being locked up or otherwise incapacitated.
Mr Nevzlin alleged on Facebook : “Shoigu is out of the game, he may become disabled if he survives.
“He suddenly had a massive heart attack.
“He is in intensive care, connected to devices.
“Rumour has it that the heart attack could not have occurred from natural causes.”
There have been previous rumours about Shoigu's heart problems, and also claims that he was out of sight because Putin ordered him to operate from a remote nuclear bunker in the Urals.
There have also been reports that Putin has put him on the sidelines of the invasion after Kremlin forces suffered heavy losses.
Shoigu was seen on April 13 on a video conference with Putin and other ministers about the development of the Arctic.
He wore a suit and took notes, evidently writing down Putin’s instructions.
He was not heard speaking.
However, there have been questions before about whether canned footage is sometimes used in these sessions when Putin is seen meeting remotely with ministers.
Nevzlin did not say when he directly believes Shoigu had a heart attack.
He claimed that the detained generals are all from "headquarters" rather than in the field in Ukraine - but gave no proof of such mass detention during the war in Ukraine.
Nevzlin wrote: "Everything is clear here - the total embezzlement of funds for the preparation of [taking over the leadership of Ukraine].
“Since 2014, about $10 billion (USD) allocated by Putin for the preparation of the blitzkrieg has been stolen.”
A criminal case is also underway against long-serving ex-deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich, 50, Nevzlin claimed.
He added: "He is expected to testify against his colleagues and friends.
“Sources in the FSB say that if he does not make a deal with the investigation, he will be transferred to either the Matrosskaya Tishina or Lefortovo pre-trial detention centres.”
He also indicated that the man who “invented Putinism” - ideologist Vladislav Surkov - has been detained in Russia and is under house arrest.
Reports of this emerged yesterday and were seen as Putin turning on his inner circle amid a crisis in the war, and deep splits in the Kremlin.
He said: "Surkov under house arrest. This is the same case in which 20 generals were arrested.”
It involves the alleged disappearance of funds intended to pave the way for war and easily take Ukraine with the aid of compliant locals.
Nevzlin is a Russian-born Israeli businessman, investor, and philanthropist.
He held high-ranking positions at Group Menatep and its subsidiary, the Yukos Oil Company.