Russian zoologist Nina Litvinova, who was known as a dissident in both the Soviet and post-Soviet periods, committed suicide at the age of 80.
Medianews.az reports that Litvinova's body was found on Wednesday on a street in the center of Moscow. Sources in law enforcement told Russian media that a suicide note from Litvinova was discovered.
The deceased's relatives said that in the note, Litvinova accused the Russian government especially of the war against Ukraine and political repressions. According to them, Litvinova in fact pointed to all of this as the reason for her self-criticism.
Nina Litvinova's close relative, journalist Mariya Slonim, sharing a part of the note on social media, wrote: "We decided to show the real reason: Putin killed her."
In the note, Litvinova stated that after the large-scale invasion against Ukraine began, life became unbearable for her: "I tried to help them, but I am already exhausted. I suffer day and night from the helplessness towards the fate of people who are imprisoned for opposing the war. I am ashamed, but I could no longer endure. Forgive me."
Nina Litvinova is the sister of the famous Soviet dissident Pavel Litvinov.
Nina and Pavel are grandchildren of Maksim Litvinov, who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR from 1930 to 1939.
Since the 1960s, Nina Litvinova was involved in the defense of political prisoners.