Mystery as top Russian general is found shot dead three months after being sacked by Putin

A RUSSIAN general who was fired by Vladimir Putin three months ago has been found shot dead, according to reports. Major General Vladimir Makarov, 72, was founded dead at his home near Moscow on Monday. Vladimir Makarov was fired by Vladimir Putin three months agoEast2West East2WestThe 67-year-old has been found dead in his home[/caption] He was in charge of “combatting extremism” in Russia, reportedly leading the witchhunt to oust the President’s rivals as well as journalists. The general is said to have hunted down and suppressed any opponents of Putin‘s totalitarian regime. He also waged war on the thousands of young people who courageously protested against the Kremlin.  But his boss Putin reportedly issued a decree to fire him last month, for reasons that remain unclear. Relatives said Makarov “did not know what to do” after being axed from his role by Putin. He had been deputy head of the Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Combating Extremism, which was also responsible for countering terrorism.  VChK-OGPU Telegram channel cited a source saying the general had slipped into a “deep depression” following his ousting. Makarov was at his country house in Golikovo village near Moscow with his wife Valentina before his death. She claimed to have heard the sound of a gunshot at 7am. A Berkut-2M hunting rifle was found nearby, reports said, although other accounts said a pistol was discovered.  Valentina summoned a family member to the property and called an ambulance after finding her husband. Paramedics were unable to revive the general, local media claims. Makarov’s family are now being interrogated by the Russian Investigative Committee, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported. Russian state news agency TASS reports that law according to law enforcement officials:  “It has been preliminarily established that he committed suicide.” You're Not Alone EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide. It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858 Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393 Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41 Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123 Movember, www.uk.movember.com Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm