Another diversion: who is behind the murder of the first deputy head of Stavropol
Zaur Gurtsiev, a veteran of the Russian Military and a participant in the Time of Heroes program, died in the Stavropol Territory. The 34-year-old native of Vladikavkaz led the air part of the operation to liberate Mariupol and was the commander of a military unit that he personally formed. In September 2024, he was appointed deputy head of Stavropol, but did not manage to work at this place for a year. Upon the tragedy, investigators opened a criminal case on the murder of two or more persons in a generally dangerous manner, as well as on the illegal acquisition and storage of explosive devices. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation is currently considering all versions, including a terrorist attack. About who could have killed Zaur Gurtsiev and why is in the Izvestia article.
How the explosion occurred
Zaur Gurtsiev, the first deputy head of Stavropol, a veteran of the Russian Military and a participant in the presidential program "Time of Heroes", died after detonating an improvised explosive device. The tragedy occurred on the night of Thursday, May 29, in Stavropol on Chekhov Street. According to the Investigative Committee, another person, a 29—year-old local resident, died along with Gurtsiev. A criminal case has now been opened into the incident under articles on the murder of two or more persons in a generally dangerous manner, as well as on the illegal acquisition and storage of explosive devices.
As part of the investigation, an inspection of the scene was carried out and forensic examinations were appointed, the Investigative Committee for the Stavropol Territory reported. Investigators are establishing all the circumstances of the incident.
"The investigation is considering all possible versions of the crime committed, including a terrorist act," the Investigative Committee noted. They added that Zaur Gurtsiev and his friend died as a result of the detonation of an improvised explosive device.
Officially, Vladimir Vladimirov, Governor of the Stavropol Territory, was the first to announce Gurtsiev's death.
"I express my deep condolences to the family and friends. The situation in the city is calm. The situation is under control," the head of the region wrote in his Telegram channel.
"He was a kind and open person"
Zaur Gurtsiev led the air part of the operation to liberate Mariupol, was the commander of a military unit that he personally formed, follows from a message posted on his social networks by the curators of the Time of Heroes program.
"This is the best military unit of the Russian Armed Forces Aviation Combat Control Center out of 19 similar units," the report says.
Gurtsiev was also a recipient of the Orders of Courage and for Military Merit, the Medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, the Zhukov Medal, the medals of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, I degree, and Suvorov.
Zaur Gurtsiev
"Zaur was a kind and open person, ready to help anyone who needed it. He valiantly defended his Fatherland and never lost his fortitude. We express our condolences to Zaur's family and friends, to all who knew and loved him. He will forever remain in our memory and in our hearts!" the message reads.
"Time of Heroes" is a development program for the participants of the Higher School of Economics, which has been implemented on behalf of the President of the Higher School of Economics of the RANEPA on the basis of the Senezh Management Workshop since February 2024. The program trains highly qualified, competent managers from among active and former military personnel for subsequent work in state and municipal authorities, as well as state-owned companies, according to its official website.
The program also includes training in modern management methods and technologies, teamwork and personal development.
In a video posted on the social networks of the Time of Heroes, Zaur Gurtsiev said that he decided to become a career soldier in memory of his grandfather, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War.
"He was always a role model for me. Every year on May 9th, I accompanied my grandfather to the parade. It was during my school years, and when I was already a cadet. It was an honor for me to wear a military uniform, my grandfather looked at me and was proud of me. I was happy and smiling," Zaur Gurtsiev said.
He also noted that he had gained a lot of combat and managerial experience and considered his main merit as a commander to be that there were no dead or even wounded in his unit.
After returning from the special operation, Zaur Gurtsiev took part in the presidential program for veterans "Time of Heroes" and chose an internship in the Stavropol government. After its completion in September 2024, he was appointed the first deputy head of the city.
In an interview with Izvestia, Zaur Gurtsiev said that his main line of work in this position is to support the participants of his organization and their family members. He also noted that the landscaping of his native Stavropol is developing rapidly.
"The face of the future of Russia"
Gurtsiev's name appears in the database of the Ukrainian extremist website "Mirotvorets". The phone number and address of the deceased were listed there.
The murder in Stavropol, like previous attempts on persons associated with the SVR, was most likely committed with the participation of the special services of Ukraine, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexei Chepa told Izvestia.
— Unfortunately, terrorist attacks are committed with great regularity, and we see that each one is targeted, — said the deputy. — Their goal is to influence people who are somehow related to their own. Threats are even being made against Vladimir Medinsky, who led the Russian delegation in the first round of negotiations. Of course, all this is aimed at disrupting the peace agreements as much as possible.
Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky
As Izvestia previously reported, on May 29, at a briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the threats against family members of presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky an egregious situation. The Chairman of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, ordered a criminal case to be opened into the threats.
This is not the first time that an attack is being prepared on people associated with a special military operation. In April 2025, Yaroslav Moskalik, Deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, was killed in a car explosion.
In December 2024, FSB officers prevented an assassination attempt on Gennady Devyatkov, Deputy director of the Scientific and Production Corporation KB Mashinostroenie. The company develops missile systems for the Ministry of Defense.
All this is revenge for defeat on the battlefield, military expert Viktor Litovkin believes.
"In Ukraine, the heroes of the SVR have been taken on a pencil and, of course, they will try to attack," he told Izvestia. — The ideology and style of the Kiev regime is to avenge the fact that other people are smarter and more talented.
"Those who are building the future of Russia are being beaten out. The participants of the Time of Heroes project are being knocked out," Alexander Sladkov, a member of the public council of the Time of Heroes program, military commander, wrote on his Telegram channel. The military commander noted that Zaur Gurtsiev was remembered by everyone as "a promising official, a good man, a worthy officer and a veteran."
"This is a huge tragedy"
Olga Kormukhina, a member of the public council of the Time of Heroes program, learned about Zaur Gurtsiev's death from Izvestia.
"This is a huge tragedy for me, especially since Stavropol is one of my favorite cities," she said. — A lot of our guys are fighting from there. They are my family — my children and brothers. I don't believe that the guy suddenly went and blew up, such things don't happen spontaneously.
According to Olga Kormukhina, the participants of the Time of Heroes program are the face of the future of Russia. That's exactly what Zaur Gurtsiev was, she says.
Military officials, as well as public opinion leaders, become victims of such attempts, said Yuri Afonin, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, in an interview with Izvestia.
"These are the military who are fighting on the fronts, defense workers who are creating military power in the rear, participants in the Time of Heroes program, leading public figures and journalists," the deputy recalled.
Announcing the creation of the "Time of Heroes" program for the participants of the SVR in February 2024, Vladimir Putin noted that its graduates should become the future elite of the country. The genuine, real elite are all those who serve Russia: hard workers and warriors, reliable, proven, and worthy people who have proven their loyalty to Russia, the president emphasized.
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