Another high-ranking Russian official has died under mysterious circumstances. The phenomenon is being called a Russian purge.

The recent death of Artem Bartenev, a federal judge in Russia, has raised suspicions of foul play.

Artem Bartenev, 42, fell from the 12th floor of his apartment window in Kazan, Tartarstan.

His death adds to a growing list of unexplained deaths of the Russian elite since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Some are calling it a Russian purge.

Bartenev was a judge appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, in 2022.

Married with two daughters, he handled administrative and civil cases at the Kirovsky District Court in Kazan.

 On the day of his death, he was scheduled to preside over an important trial. His wife, who was walking their dog at the time, discovered his lifeless body near their property. 

It was announced that there would be an investigation by Russia's Investigative Committee.

The Russian Purge List

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, several high-profile deaths of Russian officials have occurred under unusual circumstances. 

Shortly after the conflict began Oligarchs Vladislav Avayev and Sergey Protosenya, were both found with their murdered families. Their deaths were written off as murder-suicides.

Yuri Demin, 62, the former head of the State Inspectorate for Road Safety, tragically fell from the 2nd floor of his summer home. 

Marina Yankina, 59,   was head of the Russian defense ministry's financial support department. She criticized the Kremlin for Russian losses in Ukraine. And days later, fell from a window in St. Petersburg. 

Alexander Buzakov, the 66-year-old Director General of the Admiralty Shipyards for the United Shipbuilding Company, died in December 2022. 

No cause of death was reported for the wealthy businessman. A report from TASS, the Russian state-run news agency said only his passing was "untimely" and tragic.

On Christmas 2022 Pavel Antov, a Russian politician critical of Putin's invasion, was found dead in India after a fall from a window. His death occurred two days after his friend, Vladimir Bidenov, was found dead in a room at the same hotel.

In May, Pyotr Kucherenko, Russia's Deputy Science Minister, passed away after falling seriously ill on an airplane.

Kucherenko, 46, died on a flight to Moscow from Havana where he had been on government business.

Kucherenko was married to Gurtskaya, a blind pop singer who has been honored as a People's Artist of the Russian Federation, the country's highest award in the performing arts. 

She has publicly expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and reportedly signed a 2014 open letter from Russian cultural figures backing the annexation of Crimea.

These are just a few of the at least 30 deaths around the world that are said to be the result of a Russian purge.

Mysterious deaths 

Any high-profile criticism of the war in Ukraine appears to be a death sentence.

These unexplained deaths and the ongoing Russian Purge have had a chilling effect on Russia's richest and most powerful citizens.

Newsweek reports that there have been increased restrictions on foreign travel for the elite. And that the Kremlin is concerned that some individuals may defect. 

Fear and suspicion are palpable as oligarchs, officials and other members of the elite navigate a dangerous landscape where expressing dissent can have dire consequences.

The death of Artem Bartenev, along with the other unexplained deaths of Russian officials, highlights the troubling phenomenon of the “Russian Purge.”

In many cases, the true circumstances surrounding these deaths remain uncertain.