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Dan Rapoport: Putin critic who sold his property to Ivanka Trump found dead outside apartment

'There were no suicide notes, no suicide, no trip to London, no breakup,' said his wife, Alena to the media

WASHINGTON, DC, NEW YORK: Famous businessman Dan Rapoport, 52, was found dead outside his apartment in Washington, DC under mysterious circumstances. He has been living in exile in the US after criticizing Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The police have not yet released the cause of death. However, “At this time, we do not suspect foul play.” said the police.

He was discovered lying on the sidewalk outside 2400 Main St apartments in Georgetown before 9 pm on Sunday, August 14, according to police. Dan, a Latvia-born American investment banker, often spoke against President Putin and expressed support for Russia’s opposition.

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News of his death was first reported by Yuniya Pugacheva, former editor of Russian Tatler. In one of the notes shared on her telegram channel, she stated that Rapoport died by suicide and that his dog was located in a nearby park, along with a suicide note and money. Pugacheva added that she last saw Dan, former co-owner of the famous Moscow nightclub Soho Rooms, back in May at the Connaught bar in London, where she said he was, “as always, in the company of young women,” after his wife had left him. 

His Wife's Response

However, his wife, Alena Rapoport denied these claims and said, "There were no suicide notes, no suicide, no trip to London, no breakup" to Russian news outlet RBC. Alena further told that her husband evacuated her and their daughter from Kyiv, but then went back “to help my country.” “Later we were supposed to meet in the US,” she added. According to DailyMail, police recovered several personal items purportedly belonging to Dan, including more than $2,600 in cash, a broken cellphone, and a cracked headphone from the spot. The publication also reported, that Dan was allegedly locked in a conflict with a Russian venture capital firm, which was trying to cheat him out of $10,000. He conveyed the same to one of his friends over a text message. Dan was a vocal Putin critic who condemned the war and obsessively posted on social media about it.

When did he sell his property to Ivanka Trump?

In 2016, before he moved to Kyiv to be with his family, Dan sold his house to Ivanka and Jared Trump who wanted to join Donald Trump’s administration after his election win says DailyMail. The Newyork Times reported in a 2017 article, Ivanka chose a six-bedroom, 6,870-square-foot house just around the corner from President Obama’s new home. However, it was not clear whether Ivanka and Mr Kushner bought the house from Dan or rented it from a new owner.

Who is Dan Rapoport?

Dan is a Latvia-born American businessman and an Investment banker. He graduated from the University of Houston in 1991 and in the same year he returned to Russia to work in the finance and banking sector. He became a well-known face in post-Soviet Moscow due to his ownership of the popular nightclub Soho Rooms. Dan has constantly criticized Putin's policies and the war between Ukraine and Russia. He emerged as a huge supporter of Ukraine’s independence and criticized Putin’s annexation of Crimea.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).