Russian crypto tycoon killed in mysterious chopper crash HELPED Ukraine — he wasn’t Kremlin spy, widow says

THE wife of a Russian crypto tycoon killed in a mysterious helicopter crash has hit back at claims he is a Kremlin spy.

Vyacheslav Taran, 53, died when the helicopter came down near Monaco and his grieving widow Olga has insisted he did in fact support Ukraine.

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A 35-year-old French pilot also died in the accident in the Alpes-Maritimes in south-eastern France.

Russian-born Taran – originally from Vladivostok – had three children with OIga, the founder of Hello Monaco media.

After the crash, a Ukrainian news agency reported that he had ties to the Russian foreign intelligence service.

However, this claim was vigorously denied by his wife, who called the allegations against him “outrageous” and “an absolute and utter lie”.

Ms. Taran said her husband left Russia back in 2008 to pursue his business interests and focus on her.

The UNIAN agency report claimed that Taran was linked to the foreign spy agency SVR.

He is responsible for “laundering Russian funds through a system of cryptocurrency operations,” it said.

The tycoon’s wife retorted, “My husband never had any ties to the Russian government or any political affiliations.”

Ms. Taran said her husband has supported two charities for Ukrainian refugees since 2014.

They are Changeonelife, which they feel has helped
thousands of children in Ukraine have found new parents and Pristaniste based in Montenegro since 2014.

“This attack is unfair to Vyacheslav, who has always actively supported the Ukrainian people through his charitable foundations, especially children who have lost their parents,” she said.

“We still haven’t received Vyacheslav’s body due to the examination and every day brings unbearable pain.”

The accident happened around 1 p.m. on November 25 when the Eurocopter EC130 single-engine light helicopter operated by Monacair crashed after a flight from Lausanne, Switzerland.

The helicopter pilot was described by his employers as an experienced local man and had not reported an emergency

So far there is no indication of what caused the plane to hit the slope after the 90-minute flight in good visibility.

A second passenger was scheduled to board the helicopter, an almost new machine but canceled shortly before takeoff.

Taran was the founder of the trading and investing platforms Libertex and Forex Club.

The company said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that Libertex Group confirms the death of its co-founder and CEO, Vyacheslav Taran, following a helicopter crash that occurred en route to Monaco on Friday, November 25, 2022.

“The Board of Directors of Libertex Group and the employees of the company offer their deepest condolences and sympathy to the Taran family.”

The Monaco government has also issued a statement expressing its condolences to the families of the victims and declaring that it “shares the pain caused by this tragedy”.

French authorities have launched an investigation into the crash.

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