A senior veterinary official in Russiaโs Novosibirsk region has been found dead under unclear circumstances, according to reports on Wednesday, weeks after controversial mass cattle culls sparked rare protests among local farmers. Authorities confirmed the death of Sergei Tur, who led the regional animal disease control department and oversaw quarantine measures during a recent outbreak.
Tur had played a central role in organizing livestock culls on affected farms, a campaign that caused losses estimated at $3 million. Although officials attributed the outbreak to rabies and a mutated form of pasteurellosis, farmers questioned the ะผะฐัััะฐะฑ of the response. They argued that pasteurellosis is typically treatable and does not require the destruction of entire herds.
Regional health authorities confirmed that Tur died at the age of 43 and referred further inquiries to law enforcement agencies. Police subsequently stated that an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is ongoing. Meanwhile, local media outlets reported conflicting accounts. Two outlets, citing anonymous sources, claimed Tur was discovered in his car with gunshot wounds, leading investigators to consider suicide. However, another report, citing his wife Yelena, said he died of heart failure after taking medical leave due to work-related stress.
The incident comes amid broader turmoil in the regionโs agricultural sector. Recently, Novosibirsk Governor Andrei Travnikov dismissed the regional agriculture minister over concerns about veterinary safety and the spread of dangerous animal diseases.
Furthermore, the United States Department of Agriculture suggested the culls may be linked to a suspected outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious virus. This theory gained momentum after Kazakhstan imposed a ban on Russian meat and livestock imports, intensifying scrutiny of the situation.
