Famous Russian ballet star Vladimir Shklyarov reportedly died on Saturday at the age of 39 after falling from the fifth-floor balcony of a building in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Shklyarov has been a vocal advocate of ending the war against Ukraine since the first invasion in 2022, but it remains unclear whether Putin's outspoken stance on the war was linked to his death. But many of Putin's critics have suffered premature deaths of unknown causes, including in mysterious circumstances, according to a 2024 report published by the government. newsweek. According to , Shklyarov was a top-ranked dancer at the Mariinsky Theater. TMZ.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 16: Cinderella, Maria Shrinkina, the Prince, Vladimir Shklyarov and the Mariinsky Ballet rehearse the second act of Cinderella at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tuesday, October 16, 2012, in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Katherine Frey/Washington Post via Getty Images)
According to TMZ, Russian state media RIA Novosti reported that authorities have opened an investigation into Shklyarov's death, but initial findings suggest the famous dancer's fall was accidental.
Shklyarov died two days before a scheduled complex spinal surgery, local news outlets reported. Fontanka He reported that he was using painkillers due to his illness.
Russian dancer Irina Baranovskaya said Shklyarov “went out onto the balcony to get some air and smoke” before he lost his balance and fell. guardian.
The talented dancer was a graduate of the famous Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, TMZ reported. His credits include “Swan Lake,'' “Sleeping Beauty,'' “Romeo and Juliet,'' and “Don Quixote.''
According to reports, in 2022 Shklyarov opposed the war in Ukraine, saying, “I speak for my people, for a peaceful sky above my head.” GB News.
“I am against the war in Ukraine,” he said at the time.
“It is impossible to look at everything that is happening today without tears.” (RELATED: Surveillance video shows Liam Payne interacting with suspect hours before death: report)
“I want to dance…I want to love everyone. That's the purpose of my life…I don't want wars or borders,” he said.
Shklyarov is married to fellow Mariinsky dancer Maria Shirinkina, with whom he has two children.
