The word around town(i.e in Moscow) is that this is a hint to Mr Alekperov(Founder of Lukoil, owns approximately 20% of the company) that Lukoil should be sold either whole or in parts to state owned companies. Washington Post article neglects to mention the most important detail of this death, which is that it occurred on Alekperov's birthday. The buyout candidate is ironically Surgutneftegas.