Award-Winning Production Designer Dies at Moscow Hospital After Arrest for Treason

Oct. 26, 2026 Alexander Kondratov. Social media Alexander Kondratov, an award-winning production designer for the popular Russian TV series “Liquidation,” has died at a Moscow hospital after being transferred from a detention center where he was awaiting trial on treason charges, the rights NGO Perviy Otdel said Monday. Kondratov, 52, was reportedly hospitalized at the Botkin hospital last Friday for an undisclosed ailment. The cause of his death has not been made public. Russian law enforcement authorities charged Kondratov with treason on Aug. 5, though he had been held for more than 70 days under so-called “carousel arrests,” a practice of consecutive detentions on charges of disorderly conduct. Born and raised in Moscow, Kondratov moved to Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2012, where his family currently resides. Russian border guards at Vnukovo International Airport detained him on May 5, when he arrived to renew his international passport. His defense attorney Natalia Tikhonova said the treason charges, which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison for men, stemmed from “at least six” online posts Kondratov had made. The nature of those posts has not been disclosed. Kondratov was best known for his work as an art and production designer for the 2007 post-World War II detective drama “Liquidation.” His work on the series earned him two of Russia’s highest honors in television production — the TEFI and Golden Eagle awards. Perviy Otdel reported that Kondratov’s death marks at least the 11th known case of someone dying in Russian custody this year while standing trial on charges widely viewed as being politically motivated. Read more about: Court cases , Treason , Moscow Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Moscow Animal Rights Activist Sentenced to 15 Years on Treason Charges Prosecutors said Yevgenia Konforkina filmed a helicopter production facility and sent the footage to an anti-Kremlin paramilitary group based in Ukraine... 2 Min read Moscow Court Rules to Nationalize Domodedovo Airport The airport’s ultimate beneficial owners were reportedly accused of transferring $228 million of profits abroad between 2021 and 2023. 1 Min read U.S.-Russian Woman Jailed 12 Years for Donating Money to Pro-Ukraine Charity Ksenia Karelina, a spa employee in Los Angeles, was arrested in January while visiting her family in the city of Yekaterinburg. 2 Min read Russia Jails Hypersonic Missile Scientist 14 Years for Treason Anatoly Maslov, who was arrested in June 2022, specialized in hypersonics — a theoretical field with important applications for Russia's advanced missile... 1 Min read