Former SVR Spy Sergei Tretyakov Has Died

We’ve blogged in the past about Peter Early’s book on the Russian turncoat spy Sergei Tretyakov, and today’s news of his death at the age of 53 comes as a very big surprise, especially given all the attention to his disclosures over the past couple weeks relating to the undercover spy arrests.  The cause of death appears to be unknown so far (the widow did not want the news to go public immediately for some reason), and an autopsy is being conducted with results expected in late July.

Should we expect any other conclusion beyond a simple coincidence of timing?  Unfortunately the conspiracy theorists have some past evidence to point toward.  I’d recommend withholding premature judgment – as another Litvinenko would precisely be the last thing that either leadership would want right now.