Alexei Zimin, a well-known Russian chef and outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putins actions in Ukraine, was found dead in Belgrade, Serbia, according to a BBC report. Zimin, 52, was a household name in Russia but moved to London after publicly opposing the Kremlins annexation of Crimea in 2014. Despite his relocation, Zimin continued to host a popular cooking show on NTV, one of Russias major broadcasters, until the show was cancelled following his anti-war comments on social media in 2022.Zimin had recently travelled to Belgrade to promote his latest book, Anglomania, which explores his experiences in the UK. Serbian authorities reported no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, though an autopsy and toxicology report are pending. Katerina Ternovskaya, a co-owner of the restaurant where Zimin presented his book, shared her shock: “The last time we saw him, he was smiling and in great spirits. The dinner was wonderful, and Alexei was very happy,” she said.Heartfelt tributes from ZIMA restaurant teamZimins London restaurant, ZIMA, confirmed his passing in a heartfelt Instagram post, remembering him as “a colleague and friend who brought warmth and vision to our team.” The tribute continued, “We extend our condolences to Alexeis family and share in this painful loss.” His team expressed gratitude for the support they received in his memory, mourning the loss of a respected leader in their culinary community. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ZIMA Russian Restaurant (@zimarestaurant)A prominent opponent of Russias war in UkraineZimin was widely recognised for his vocal opposition to Russias military actions in Ukraine. After singing an anti-war song on social media, his cooking show, Cooking with Alexei Zimin, was removed from NTV. He also used Instagram to post anti-war messages, calling for the return of Russian soldiers. “War is the worst thing that can happen,” he wrote, denouncing the violence and urging the Kremlin to end the conflict.Challenges and threats since relocating to UKSince relocating to London, Zimin had not returned to Russia, citing safety concerns. ZIMA, his London restaurant, actively supported Ukrainian refugees, and both he and his restaurant had reportedly been targets of threats due to his anti-war stance.
