Latest news with #NikolayChesnokov
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Putin's top sports university boss found dead inside head of 279ft tall statue
Professor Nikolay Chesnokov, 68, was found dead inside the famous The Motherland Calls monument in Volgograd - despite the popular Russian landmark being closed to the public The chancellor of Russia's top sports university has been found dead inside the head of a 279ft statue once considered the world 's tallest. Police are now probing the bizarre circumstances surrounding the death of Professor Nikolay Chesnokov, 68, who was discovered in the famous The Motherland Calls monument in Volgograd. He is believed to have been illegally inside the giant statue, which is currently closed to the public. Chesnokov was rector of the renowned Kremlin-funded Moscow State Academy of Physical Culture. In his last photo before climbing the statue, the ex professor was seen preparing to lay flowers at the site, which is considered a sacred war memorial. His body was found inside the head of the monument - more than 107ft above the ground and accessed via a hatch after a climb of 200 steps, some of which are on ladders, according to reports. The Russian Investigative Committee was today probing his death for any sign of foul play but other theories are that he stumbled and fell or suffered a heart attack. Chesnokov was a Soviet-era Master of Sport in Athletics, and an Academician of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. The Motherland Calls in Volgograd was the tallest statue in the world from its completion in 1967 until 1975. The world famous statue commemorates the Battle of Stalingrad - the previous name for Volgograd - which took place in 1942-43. He died at the highest point it was possible to climb inside the statue, according to reports. 'He went up to the very top,' said one media outlet. According to locals, climbing to the head of the monument is a rare practice, and for people not involved in the maintenance of the monument, it is also illegal. His academy is seen as the best sports university in Russia, known for producing elite coaches, athletes, and sports scientists. It has strong connections to the Olympic movement and Russian sports federations, and offers programmes in sports medicine, physical education, kinesiology, and coaching. The committee said an investigation was underway, adding: 'According to preliminary data, the man's death does not have any signs of a criminal nature.'
Russia Today
22-05-2025
- Russia Today
Body found inside the head of iconic WW2 monument
A body has been discovered inside the head of 'The Motherland calls', an iconic 85-meter statue in the city of Volgograd, according to Russia's Investigative Committee. Volgograd, which was known as Stalingrad from 1925 to 1961, saw one of the Second World War's deadliest and most pivotal battles. 'The Motherland Calls', by architect Evgeny Vuchetich, was erected in 1967 to commemorate the defenders of the city and remains the tallest statue of a woman globally. The local branch of Russia's Investigative Committee has told RIA Novosti on Thursday that a probe has been launched into the death of a man inside the statue, who they described as a tourist. A source cited by the news outlet later identified him as the principal of the Moscow State Academy of Physical Education, Nikolay news website reported that he had started to feel unwell during an excursion inside the statue and passed away before paramedics could reach him. Later in the day, the academy announced on its website that Chesnokov had passed away at the age of 68. Chesnokov was a former track and field athlete, a Doctor of Sciences in Pedagogy, a professor and a member of the expert council at the Russian Sports Ministry. He had been the principal of the Moscow State Academy of Physical Education since May 2023.
