World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Ivan Gudkov, 20, dies by suicide, his father says
Dmitry Gudkov said his son Ivan died by suicide at age 20.
Gudkov is a former member of Russia’s State Duma, and Ivan’s mother is producer Sofia Kapkova.
His father said Ivan had faced serious inner problems for years and asked people not to disturb the family as they grieve.
Ivan had written publicly about the difficulty of living in emigration and his feelings about Russian identity.
He said he could not accept giving up that identity to fit into another society.
The family has not shared further details about his death.
The news has renewed attention to the family, while Gudkov lives abroad and has been sentenced in absentia in Russia to eight years in prison over a case related to claims about the Russian army.
Ivan Gudkov, 20, died by suicide, his father, former Russian lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov, said.
His father said Ivan had struggled with serious internal problems for several years and asked the public not to disturb the family.
Shortly before his death, Ivan wrote about the difficulties of emigration and his refusal to give up his Russian identity.
The family has not disclosed other circumstances of his death.
- Who
- Ivan Gudkov, the 20-year-old son of Dmitry Gudkov and Sofia Kapkova.
- What
- He died by suicide, his father said.
- When
- Reported on October 14, 2026. The exact date of his death is not stated.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- His father said Ivan had struggled with serious internal problems for years. Ivan had also written about difficulties related to emigration and Russian identity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ivan wrote on social media about the difficulties of emigration and his Russian identity.
News outlets reported that Dmitry Gudkov had confirmed his son Ivan's death by suicide.
- Age
- 20
- Father
- Dmitry Gudkov
- Mother
- Sofia Kapkova
- Reported
- October 14, 2026
- Father's account
- Ivan had struggled with serious internal problems for several years
3 sources
What people are saying
For me this path is unacceptable. The two best gifts in my life were being born Russian and living in Russia. And although the second suddenly came to an end, no one can take the third away from me — the right to die Russian. Glory to Russia!
serious internal problems that he had not been able to overcome