Rudenko, a correspondent for the Russian public television network ORT’s crime program Chelovek i zakon (Man and the Law) was found dead in his Moscow flat. Smelling smoke from behind his door, his neighbors called the fire department. Police investigators found that Rudenko had sustained several knife wounds before his apartment was set on fire.
Rudenko’s boss, Alexei Pimanov, said he believed Rudenko’s murder was connected with his work but declined to offer any evidence. Other colleagues said they knew of no evidence to substantiate such a claim.