A Russian tv chef, who was an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin’s conflict in Ukraine, has been discovered useless in Serbia, the BBC reported. Alexei Zimin, 52, was thought of a family identify in Russia earlier than he left the nation after criticising the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. He arrange his new dwelling and companies in London however remained the host of a well-liked cookery present on Russian broadcaster NTV. Nevertheless, the present was axed after he posted an anti-war message on social media following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Mr Zimin was discovered useless in a resort room in Belgrade, the BBC reported citing Russian media. He had travelled to the Serbian capital to advertise his new e book about Britain Anglomania.
Serbian authorities have stated that there have been “no suspicious circumstances” associated to Mr Zimin’s loss of life and that an post-mortem and toxicology report was ongoing.
Katerina Ternovskaya, co-owner of the restaurant the place the 52-year-old had introduced his e book, stated individuals have been “in shock” including that “the final time we have now seen him, he was smiling and in an excellent temper”. “The dinner was fantastic and Alexei was very comfortable,” she stated.
Mr Zimin’s restaurant within the UK additionally confirmed the chef’s loss of life on Instagram. “To us, Alexei was not solely a colleague but in addition a pal, a detailed companion with whom we shared many experiences – good, variety, and at occasions sorrowful,” the restaurant stated. “We’re profoundly grateful for the sort phrases we have now obtained right now in Alexei’s reminiscence. We share this painful loss with you. Your complete ZIMA workforce extends our heartfelt condolences to Alexei’s household and mourns alongside them,” it added.
Notably, Mr Zimin was a outstanding critic of Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. After he posted a video on social media of him singing an anti-war tune, his Russian TV present ‘Cooking with Alexei Zimin’ was abruptly cancelled by the community NTV.
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At first of the conflict in 2022, the chef additionally wrote a number of anti-war statements on Instagram saying, “carry our troopers dwelling” and “The thought is unoriginal. Cease the conflict. Withdraw troops and produce our troopers dwelling”.
“Like everybody who grew up within the USSR, I used to be introduced up with the pretty frequent sense perception that conflict is the worst factor that may occur. There is no such thing as a excuse for it and even when there have been, now it is too late to make excuses. As Rosenbaum sang. Gotta cease this insanity and ‘Warfare just isn’t poker'” he stated.
Since shifting to the UK, Mr Zimin reportedly had not been again to Russia. He beforehand stated that he and his restaurant Zima in central London, which has donated cash to Ukrainian refugees, had been the goal of threats.