Russian journalist and columnist Anton Korobkov-Zemļanskij, who was the spokesperson and PR manager of the propaganda singer known as Shaman, died suddenly on Saturday. Radio Sloboda (RFE/RL) reported about it.
According to the TASS agency, which referred to medical sources, the cause of death of the 40-year-old journalist was a failure of the cardiovascular system. Other media reported without citing sources that Korobkov-Zemļanskij he died of a heart attack. He had no heart problems before.
Russian tabloid media wrote that Korobkov-Zemļansky had recently had problems at work and was “on the verge of a nervous breakdown”. Literally the day before his death, he had to explain one of his recent statements in the media. In connection with this, he was allegedly under stress.
Anton Korobkov-Zemlyanskij began his career in radio and television in the Krasnoyarsk Region, where he came from. He later moved to Moscow, where he worked on federal TV channels and in the field of media management. In 2015-17, he worked as the press secretary of pop singer Filip Kirkorov – ex-husband of Russian diva Alla Pugacheva. Since 2022, he has been the spokesperson for the pro-government singer Jaroslav Dronov, performing under the pseudonym Šaman (the transcription Shaman is also used).
The shaman became famous for the patriotic pop song Som Rus (I am Russian), which he used to sing dressed in a black leather jacket with a sleeve tape in the colors of the Russian flag. Shaman received criticism from several of his colleagues in the entertainment industry for his engagement in favor of the Kremlin’s policy after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, while a parody of the song I am Russian called I uzkij (pun – I’m Russian/I’m narrow) was also created. accompanied by a clip in which the main character is depicted excessively tall and narrow.
Shaman supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine and often speaks at government-organized propaganda events in support of it. In June 2024, he was included on the sanctions list of the European Union for his involvement.
