In the Novosibirsk Region, Sergei Tur, the head of the Department for the Organization of Anti-Epizootic and Quarantine Measures at the veterinary administration, was found dead. This was reported by Sibirsky Express and by his wife, Elena.
Details of the death. According to Sibirsky Express, Tur was found in his own car with a gunshot wound. One of the versions being considered is suicide. Shortly before that, inspections of the department had begun.
Elena claims that her husband’s “heart gave out” — shortly before his death, he had taken sick leave.
“This is related to his work, directly related to it. A heavy moral and physical burden, a great deal of responsibility. He went on sick leave and that is how it happened. Yesterday both investigators and the local police officer came,” she said.
According to Sibirsky Express, the department headed by Tur was involved in seizing livestock from residents in districts of the Novosibirsk Region where, authorities claimed, there had been an outbreak of pasteurellosis.
Livestock seizure. Since February, livestock have been seized from farmers and destroyed in the Novosibirsk Region. The authorities explained this by outbreaks of rabies and pasteurellosis, but, according to local residents, no documents were provided during the seizures and the reasons were not properly explained.
At the same time, pasteurellosis is treated with antibiotics and does not require livestock slaughter, so experts suggested that the issue might involve a more dangerous infection, such as foot-and-mouth disease.