Russian Military Plane Crashes After Take Off in Sochi

[Peter Lemkin]

Can't vouch for the source or information but interesting. Would have been an even bigger coup if they had managed to get these guys as well. Googlish translation.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The current Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, and first Deputy Defence Minister General Valery Gerasimov and GRU (Russian military intelligence agency) chief General Igor Korobov were supposed to join Alexandrov Ensemble artists, journalists and soldiers, but their trip was canceled at the last moment. Both stayed in St. Petersburg.

Rescuers continue to search for the Tu-154 passenger in the Black Sea, while in the Russian Defense Ministry assured that all dead. Meanwhile, there are those who have had to fly on this flight, but as luck would have stayed on the ground.
Thus, according to some reports, the head of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov and GRU chief General Igor Korobov had to join Alexandrov Ensemble artists, journalists and soldiers, but their trip was canceled. Both remained in St. Petersburg.

In addition, it has not confirmed the fact of the death of the chief of General Vladimir Ivanovsky military police. According to relatives, he could also cancel the flight and thus be saved.
1 We also know that the 93rd person from the list of those on board did not pass customs and also stayed on the ground . They became members of the ensemble Alexandrov Roman Valuto. In addition, the board could be the People's Artist of the USSR Iosif Kobzon - guide his name was on tour together
Подробнее: Крушение Ту-154: Чудом остались живы начальники Генштаба России и ГРУ http://tsargrad.tv/news/2016/12/25/krushenie-tu-154-chudom-ostalis-zhivy-nachalniki-genshtaba-rossii-i-gru

http://tsargrad.tv/news/2016/12/25/krush...ssii-i-gru

Interesting, but doesn't make any sense. This was only a music mission to entertain the troops for the Holidays.....so what would a General and/or GRU guy have to gain? I can see nothing - and lots to loose. If true, it is suspicious - but the motive escapes me entirely....unless they were double-agents. In that case, they are good as dead. The fact they remained [if true] in St. Petersburg doesn't sound like they are guilty. If they were, they'd be out of Russia by now.