A RUSSIAN billionaire who was said to have links to Moscow’s foreign intelligence died in a mysterious helicopter crash after a passenger cancelled at the last minute.
Businessman Vyacheslav Taran, 53, was killed in the crash near the village of Eze, after taking off from Lausanne, Switzerland.
A 35-year-old French pilot was also killed in the accident that happened in the Alpes-Maritimes, in the southeast of France.
There was supposed to be another passenger onboard but they mysteriously cancelled at the last minute.
The accident happened around 1 pm on November 25, Monaco Daily News reported, when the single-engine light helicopter Eurocopter EC130 (H130) operated by Monacair crashed near Monaco.
The Deputy Public Prosecutor of Nice visited the scene of the accident and said the fault of a third party could not be ruled out.
The Russian embassy in France noted the crash happened near the city of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Taran was the founder of the trading and investment platform Libertex and Forex Club.
However, it has been alleged he had ties to Russia's foreign intelligence.
Ukrainian news agency UNIAN described him as a "billionaire crypto businessman with likely ties to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service".
The report alleged that Taran was linked to the SVR foreign espionage agency and was responsible for “laundering Russian funds through a system of cryptocurrency operations”.
Pro-war Russian Telegram channel Marat Bashirov headlined the accident as a “clean-up” operation.
Taran – a highly successful offshore specialist originally from Vladivostok – was married to Russian wife Olga, founder of Hello Monaco media, and the couple had three children.
The company said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that Libertex Group confirms the death of its co-founder and Chairman of Board of Directors, Vyacheslav Taran, after a helicopter crash that took place en route to Monaco on Friday, 25 November 2022.
"The Board of Directors of Libertex Group and company employees extend their most heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the Taran family."
The Government of Monaco has also issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the victims and said that it "shares the pain caused by this tragedy".
An investigation has been launched into the crash by French authorities.
I'm A Celeb rows and backstage threats fans never saw revealed by star
Hollyoaks' Jorgie Porter gives birth to first baby and reveals adorable name
Sweet new pic of Archie released on day William and Kate start US tour
England opponents Senegal under investigation for breaking World Cup rules
©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. “The Sun”, “Sun”, “Sun Online” are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers’ Limited’s Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. View our online Press Pack. For other inquiries, Contact Us. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)
Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/
