Prominent Figure Found Dead in Moscow Hotel
Umar Dzhabrailov, a well-known Chechen-born Russian businessman and former member of the Federation Council, was found dead on Monday, March 2, 2026, in a hotel in central Moscow. He was 67 years old. Law enforcement sources and media reports indicate that his death is being investigated as an apparent suicide.
Dzhabrailov's body was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head, and a pistol was found nearby. He was reportedly found in the Vesper Tverskaya luxury residential complex or a hotel on Tverskaya Street. Initial investigations have found no signs of foul play or criminal involvement, according to Russian news agency TASS and other outlets.
A Life in Business and Politics
Born on June 28, 1958, in Grozny, Chechnya, Umar Dzhabrailov built a multifaceted career spanning business, politics, and public life. He served as a representative for the Chechen Republic in the Federation Council of Russia, the upper house of the Russian parliament, from 2004 to 2009. During this period, he also held the position of deputy chairman of the committee on international affairs.
Beyond his political roles, Dzhabrailov was a significant figure in the Russian business world, particularly in the late 1990s. His interests included real estate and hospitality, and he previously owned the Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel & Business Center in Moscow. He was also known for his involvement with the Plaza Group, which managed major Moscow assets. Dzhabrailov was also the vice president of the Artists Union of Russia and a member of the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Past Controversies and Prior Attempts
Dzhabrailov's life was not without controversy. In the 1990s, he was investigated, though not charged, in connection with the 1996 killing of American businessman Paul Tatum, his partner in managing the Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel. Tatum was shot amid disputes over the property.
In 2000, Dzhabrailov ran as a candidate in the Russian presidential election, finishing last with less than 0.1% of the vote. More recently, in 2017, he gained media attention after an incident at the Four Seasons Hotel where he fired a pistol and was found with white powder. He was later found guilty of hooliganism with the use of weapons. Reports also indicate that Dzhabrailov had a prior suicide attempt in 2020. Sources close to him suggested he had been suffering from severe depression in recent years and had an addiction.
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