A 16-year-old teenager is suspected of fatally stabbing a high-ranking associate of Russian leader Vladimir Putin within a heavily guarded government facility in downtown Moscow.

The victim, Alexei Belyaev, held a prominent position at Roskomnadzor, an agency known for enforcing online censorship and restricting internet access across Russia. Belyaev, responsible for overseeing the blocking of various websites, including popular social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube, was reportedly attacked in the chest by the teenager on January 19, resulting in his immediate death.

The tragic incident took place at the entrance of Roskomnadzor’s headquarters, situated just a short distance from the Kremlin. Reports indicate that the young assailant had been observed lurking around the building with a knife in hand the previous month.

Despite the severity of the event, Russian authorities have not officially acknowledged the killing, leading to speculation of a deliberate media blackout orchestrated by the FSB domestic security service under Putin’s administration. An investigative channel with close ties to security services revealed that the stabbing, driven by the teenager’s animosity towards Roskomnadzor’s censorship practices, occurred earlier in the month.

According to the same source, the authorities have initiated a criminal investigation into the murder, categorizing it as a politically motivated crime. However, public records pertaining to the case have not been made available, except for reports of the boy’s mother seeking legal assistance following his arrest on suspicion of murder.

The circumstances surrounding Belyaev’s demise have been shrouded in secrecy, with his personal identification details becoming invalid on the day of the incident, a common procedure following an official death registration. Media outlets, both independent and pro-government, were reportedly instructed to refrain from reporting on Belyaev’s death on the day it occurred.

Additionally, reports indicate that Belyaev, who had received recognition from President Putin for his role in ensuring secure communications during past elections, supplemented his income by working as a taxi driver due to financial constraints in Moscow. The Russian authorities have chosen not to provide any comments on the matter.