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OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying
2024, Vol. 0(0) 1–13
© The Author(s) 2024
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DOI: 10.1177/00302228241287850
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Homicide-Suicide in Russia
and Pakistan: Observations
From Press Media Reports
Rameez Ali Mahesar
1
, Andrei V. Golenkov
2
, Amna Fazail
3
,
Ahmed Raza ul Mustafa
4,5
, Pavel B. Zotov
6
, and Sheikh Shoib
7
Abstract
This study compares the features of homicide-suicide in Russia and Pakistan. To
understand this, we conducted a content analysis of news reports about homicide-
suicide published in Pakistani and Russian newspapers between March 2020 and May
2023. We identified 35 and 104 homicide-suicide cases in Pakistani and Russian media,
respectively. Men were three to five times more likely to commit homicide-suicides
than women (3.16: 1 in Russia; 4.83: 1 in Pakistan). Accounting for over 65.73% of all
homicide-suicides, spousal homicide-suicides and filicide-suicide were the most
common homicide-suicides in both regions. Filicide-suicides were more often done by
Russian women and extra-family homicide-suicides by Pakistani women. Reasons for
homicide-suicides in Pakistani women were divorce or separation and in Russian
women –mental disorders. With the difference of homicide in the victims, Pakistani
victims were aged 15–30 years, while Russian were 31–45 years and 46 years and older.
There were more similarities in homicide-suicides than differences.
1
Department of Media Science, Iqra University, Karachi, Pakistan
2
Department of Psychiatry & Medical Psychology, Chuvash State University, Cheboksary, Russia
3
Department of Mass Communication, The Women University, Multan, Pakistan
4
Department of Economics, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Shaheed Benazirabad, Pakistan
5
Social Wellbeing Research Centre, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Malaya, Malaysia
6
Institute of Clinical Medicine & Siberian School of Preventive Suicidology and Deviantology, Tyumen State
Medical University, Tyumen, Russia
7
Independent Researcher, India
Corresponding Author:
Rameez Ali Mahesar, Department of Media Science, Iqra University, Main Campus, Shaheed-e-Millat Road,
Phase 2 Defence View Housing Society, Karachi City, Sindh 75500, Pakistan.
Email: rameez.mahesar@iqra.edu.pk
Keywords
homicide-suicide, special forms of homicide-suicide, newspaper reports, Pakistan,
Russia
Introduction
Homicide-suicide is a malpractice that includes murder followed by the subsequent
suicide of the perpetrator (Liem, 2010;Liem & Koenraadt, 2007;Satoh & Osawa,
2016). It can also be called “extended-suicide”,“murder-suicide”or “dyadic death”
(Rouchy et al., 2020). Homicide-suicide may also entail multiple deaths at a time,
which may occur within friendships, families, relatives and neighbourhood networks,
leading to mental disease and emotionally traumatic situations, secondary victimi-
zation, and the disruption in social networks (Liem, 2010). In other terms, the most of
the fatal homicide-suicide events happen in the family members or people who know
well to one another; however, perpetrators are mostly the males and the victims appear
often younger (Roma et al., 2012). This all indicates that the incidents of homicide-
suicide have significant impact on the public health sphere and socio-political
landscape.
The available empirical work on homicide-suicide has been focused on investigating
whether it is a suicide-driven, primarily homicide-driven, or it is entirely a discrete type
of violence (Eliason, 2009;Liem & Nieuwbeerta, 2010;Logan et al., 2008). Some
quarters have, however, argued that the homicide-suicide stems from suicide, high-
lighting the history of suicidal thoughts or actions, planned nature of the attack,
symptoms of depression, or the use of a suicide note (Liem & Roberts, 2009;Roma
et al., 2012). These findings, to this end, have associated homicide-suicide incidents to
suicidality and suicide.
Even though the unpleasant occurrences of homicide-suicide are rarely heard or
reported, it is a noteworthy public health and social problem (Zimmerman & Fridel,
2020) that takes the attention of the local and national media that is newspapers, which
give it an extensive coverage (Flynn et al., 2015). Subsequently, the style of media
reporting of these unpleasantly violent incidents forms public understanding of such
lethal events and their attitude towards offenders and victims (Allen & Nairn, 1997;
Soothill et al., 2002;Stout et al., 2004).
This study, however, aims to compare rates, patterns, and types of homicide-suicide
incidents in Pakistan and Russia to better understand their differences through press
media reports. It is interesting to note that the findings of this study will shed light on
homicide-suicide in the context of developing (Pakistan) and developed nations
(Russia).
2OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying 0(0)
Methods
Newspaper Selection
First, we undertook eight major Pakistani English-language newspapers: daily Dawn,
daily Express Tribune, daily The News International, daily Pakistan Observer, daily
Pakistan Today, and daily The Nation. These newspapers are released on daily intervals
in electronic as well as printed versions with different city editions. In the Russian
Federation, however, we used 42 regional electronic media and all newspapers are in
Russian: aif/incidents/criminal, Progorod, gaseta, kommersant, lenta, mirnov, mk, kp,
petrovka-38, k-architekt/kriminalnye-novosti-rossii-svezhieto collect the cases of
homicide-suicide published between March 2020 and May 2023.
Search Strategy
AF, AG, PZ (the contributing authors) undertook a very comprehensive search strategy
for news reports on homicide-suicide published by the undertaken newspapers in this
study. To underpin the search process, the said authors searched the electronic versions
of the target newspapers.
Data Extraction
After identifying the relevant news reports, four authors (AG, PZ, RAM and AF)
individually retrieved data from news reports at hand. The authors briskly assessed
every single news report and extracted the most important information concerning
homicide-suicide. Lastly, all the authors resolved relevant confusions or discrepancies
which were found throughout vigorous data extraction practice.
Content Analysis
We systematically analysed the data at hand to identify the dominant types of homicide-
suicide incidents, relationship between perpetrators and their victims, weapons and
methods employed in the fatal incidents, and patterns concerning suicidal behaviour.
This analysis, however, provides us with valuable observations, extent, and context of
the violent events reported by selected newspapers across the undertaken time frame.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Laying the focus on the undertaken time frame for the study, we established a few
inclusion-exclusion criteria to ensure the selection of relevant and appropriate news
reports. Nevertheless, the former involves news specifically reporting on homicide and
subsequent suicide jointly. However, news reports about homicide and suicide sep-
arately were not added for the analysis. Moreover, news reports hailing from countries
Mahesar et al. 3
other than Pakistan and Russia or about non-Pakistani and non-Russian individuals
were also not considered to be included in this analysis. Additionally, we did not add
other newspaper genres, such as editorials, letters to the editor, interviews, articles,
book reviews, opinions and feature stories. Finally, the entertainment pages indicating
the target events depicted on the television screens were also not included in the
analysis.
Demographic Features of Homicide-suicide Offenders and Victims
In the sample from Pakistan there were 35 aggressors (29 man and 6 women) ranging in
age from 24 to 48 years old (mean 34.8, SD 7.8), 42 victims (18 man and 24 women)
respectively –from 2 to 50 years old (mean 24.8, SD 13.4); in the sample from Russian,
there were 104 aggressors (79 man and 25 women) ranging in age from 17 to 86 years
old (mean 41.1, SD 11.1), 143 victims (48 man and 95 women) respectively –from
0.1 to 84 years old (mean 29.2, SD 22.4).
Statistical Analysis
The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 10.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). The
descriptive statistical data are given in mean values and standard deviations (SD) and in
percentages. Continuous data were compared with an independent sample ttest and
categorical variables with Pearson chi-square (χ
2
). When one or several cells contained
5 subjects or less, a Fisher’s Exact test was used. All tests were performed in a two-
tailed form.
Ethical Permission
This study used the data from newspapers, which are always publicly available and
freely accessible. To this end, no direct permission was obtained for the study.
Data Analysis
As can be seen from Table 1, men are almost three to five times more likely to commit
homicide-suicide than women (3.16: 1 in Russia; 4.83: 1 in Pakistan). There were
29.8% of homicide-suicide in Russia with two or more victims (1.38 victims on
average), 25.7% in Pakistan (1.20 victims on average). The most common homicide-
suicide cases in the two countries are spousal (partner) and filicide-suicide. They
account for more than 65%–73% of all homicide-suicide.
As can be seen from Table 1, statistical differences are detected only for homicide-
suicide done by women in two countries (χ
2
= 15.275; df = 4, p= .004). Filicide-
suicides were more often done by Russian women (84.0%; χ
2
= 14.166; df = 1, p<
.001), and extra-family homicide-suicide by women from Pakistan (33.3%; χ
2
= 4.241;
4OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying 0(0)
df = 1, p= .038). No other differences were identified, as were no cases of homicide-
suicide with two or more victims (including mass homicides).
Table 2. Comparison of Weapons Used in the Homicide.
Weapons
Pakistan Russia
Total Male Female Total Male Female
Knife 13
37.1
9
31.0
4
66.6
35
33.7
29
36.7
6
24.0
Firearms 14
40.0
13
44.8
1
16.7
24
23.1
23
29.1
1
4.0
Strangulation 2
5.7
2
6.9
-12
11.5
6
7.6
6
24.0
Throw from height 1
2.9
-1
16.7
11
10.5
6
7.6
5
20.0
Beating - - - 7
6.7
6
7.6
1
4.0
Other methods 5
14.3
5
17.3
-8
7.7
5
6.3
3
12.0
Severalmethods - - - 7
7.7
4
5.1
3
12.0
TOTAL 35
100.0
29
100.0
6
100.0
104
100.0
79
100.0
25
100.0
Table 1. Comparison of Weapons Used in the Homicide.
Types of incidents
Pakistan n, % Russia n,%
Total Male Female Total Male Female
Spousal (partnership) homicide-suicide 15
42.9
14
48.3
1
16.7
45
43.3
44
55.7
1
4.0
Filicide-suicide 8
22.9
7
24.1
1
16.7
31
29.8
10
12.7
21
84.0
Familicide-suicide 1
2.9
1
3.5
-8
7.7
78.8 14.0
Extra-family homicide-suicide 7
20.0
5
17.2
2
33.3
8
7.7
8
10.1
-
Special forms of homicide-suicide* 4
11.3
2
6.9
2
33.3
12
11.5
10
12.7
2
8.0
TOTAL 35
100.0
29
100.0
6
100.0
104
100.0
79
100.0
25
100.0
*Suicides after mass murders (3 victims or more), adolescent homicide-suicides, suicides after “Mercy killing”.
Mahesar et al. 5
The homicide weapons were most often firearms and piercing and cutting objects.
The compared groups do not differ in the homicide weapons used (Table 2).
To commit suicide after a homicide, firearms (25.0%–68.6%) or (25.0% in Russia
vs. 68.6% in Pakistan) and sharp objects (14.2%–27.9%) or (14.2% in Pakistan vs.
27.9% in Russia) were most often used. Jumping from a height has not been used as a
method of suicide in Pakistan. As can be seen from Table 3, aggressors from Pakistan
more often used firearms to commit suicide (68.6%; χ
2
= 14.419; df = 1, p< .001), and
murderers from Russia jumped (fell) from a height (21.1%; χ
2
= 7.579; df = 1, p= .005).
The differences in suicide methods between the two countries are highly significant
(χ
2
= 23.358; df = 5, p< .001).
Among homicide-suicide, the leading causes were various conflicts, divorces and
separations. Other reasons are given in Table 4.
As can be seen from Table 4, the compared groups differ in their motives for
committing homicide-suicide (χ
2
= 13.693; df = 7, p= .017). Men (aggressors) from
Russia were more likely to have mental disorders (15.2% vs. 0; χ
2
= 6.613; df = 1, p=
.010). In a group of women from Pakistan, compared with a similar Russian group, the
causes of homicide-suicide were divorce or separation (66.6 vs. 16.0%; χ
2
= 4.419; df =
1, p= .035), and in women from Russia –mental disorders (44.0% vs. 0; χ
2
= 6.239;
df = 1, p= .012).
As can be seen from Table 5, the victims of homicide in the two countries differed
across the groups being compared (χ
2
= 19.036; df = 4, p< .001). Thus, in Pakistan
there were more victims aged 15–30 years (38.1%; χ
2
= 10.259; df = 1, p= .001), in
Russia, respectively –31–45 years (27.2%; χ
2
= 5.120; df = 1, p= .023) and 46 years
Table 3. Comparison of Tools Used in the Suicide.
Tools
Pakistan Russia
Total Male Female Total Male Female
Knife 5
14.2
4
13.8
1
16.6
29
27.9
24
30.3
5
20.0
Firearms 24
68.6
21
72.4
3
50.0
26
25.0
25
31.7
1
4.0
Hanging 3
8.6
2
6.8
1
16.7
12
11.5
7
8.9
5
20.0
Jump from height - - - 22
21.1
14
17.7
8
32.0
Poisoning 2
5.7
1
3.5
1
16.7
6
5.8
2
2.5
4
16.0
Other methods 1
2.9
1
3.5
-9
8.7
7
8.9
2
8.0
TOTAL 35
100.0
29
100.0
6
100.0
104
100.0
79
100.0
25
100.0
6OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying 0(0)
and older (22.4%; χ
2
= 5.955; df = 1, p= .014). Among female victims in Pakistan, the
majority were aged 15–30 years (33.3%; χ
2
= 10.128; df = 1, p= .001), in Russia –aged
31–45 years (34.7%; χ
2
= 5.605; df = 1, p= .017); among male victims in Russia, more
were aged 46 years and older (22.9%; χ
2
= 3.947; df = 1, p= .047).
Discussion
Although homicide-suicide incidents are rarely discussed or documented, they rep-
resent a significant public health and social issue (Zimmerman & Fridel, 2020).
Table 4. Causes of HS.
Causes
Pakistan Russia
Total Male Female Total Male Female
Divorce, separation 9
25.7
5
17.3
4
66.6
28
26.9
24
30.3
4
16.0
Conflicts, quarrels 16
45.7
15
51.7
1
16.7
27
26.0
25
31.7
2
8.0
Mental disorders - - - 23
22.1
12
15.2
11
44.0
Poverty 6
17.3
5
17.3
1
16.7
10
9.6
7
8.9
3
12.0
Serious illnesses - - - 4
3.9
2
2.5
2
8.0
Other * 4
11.3
4
13.7
-12
11.5
9
11.4
3
12.0
TOTAL 35
100.0
29
100.0
6
100.0
104
100.0
79
100.0
25
100.0
Table 5. Gender and Age of Victims in Two Countries.
Age of victims
Pakistan Russia
Total Male Female Total Male Female
n%n%n%n%n%n%
Under 15 years 17 40.5 950.0 833.3 50 35.0 24 50.0 26 27.4
15–30 16 38.1 527.7 11 45.9 22 15.4 714.6 15 15.8
31–45 5 11.9 211.1 312.5 39 27.2 612.5 33 34.7
≥46 3 7.1 15.6 28.3 32 22.4 11 22.9 21 22.1
Unknown 1 2.4 15.6 ---- -- - -
TOTAL 42 100.0 18 100.0 24 100.0 143 100.0 48 100.0 95 100.0
Mahesar et al. 7
Newspapers, both local and national, pay close attention to these cases and provide in-
depth coverage (Flynn et al., 2015).
The study of homicide-suicide in Pakistan and Russia reveals differences in the
typological structure, gender and age groups of aggressors and victims, suicide
weapons, and causes of homicide. Spousal homicide-suicide and filicide-suicides
account for over 65%–73% of all homicides, with Russian women more likely to
commit filicide-suicides and Pakistan women more likely to commit extra-family
homicides. However, an analogy of the frequent cases of extra-familial homicide-
suicide in Pakistan can be seen in an article from Turkey, in which their share is 40%, as
well as victims <17 years of age (33.3%) (Dogan et al., 2010). Russian data are more
consistent with publications from European countries and the USA (Flynn et al., 2015).
Homicide weapons were most often firearms and sharp objects. The leading causes
of homicides were conflicts, divorces, and separations, with men from Russia more
likely to have mental disorders. This finding goes in line with the findings of previous
studies (Barraclough & Harris, 2002;Larchet et al., 2023;Leung & Joosse, 2023;
Moskowitz et al., 2006;Saleva et al., 2007;Schwab-Reese & Peek-Asa, 2019). Also,
the high proportion of murders with the help of piercing objects in the Russian
Federation coincide in this aspect with studies in which firearms are not found at all
(China) (Chan et al., 2003) or are not used so often (England, Wales) (Flynn et al.,
2015). In this regard, cases from Pakistan, in which firearms predominate, fit into
traditional ideas about homicide-suicide (Alexandri et al., 2022;Jordan & McNiel,
2021;Schwab-Reese & Peek-Asa, 2019;Zimmerman & Fridel, 2020).
Decreasing access to lethal means, such as knives and other weapons, has the
potential to contribute to a reduction in such tragic events. Additionally, implementing
and reinforcing legislative control over the sale of pesticides commonly used as
household poisons would be a vital step in preventing these types of incidents and
ensuring the safety of individuals and families.
However, the availability of such detrimental weapons may increase the possibility
of being a triggering factor for not only the homicide-suicide or homicide (Milroy,
1995). This is further supported by a systematic review of population-based studies of
homicide-suicide, which underscored the rates of homicide-suicide to be positively
associated with the rate of homicides by firearms in studies from the United States
(Jordan & McNiel, 2021;Schwab-Reese & Peek-Asa, 2019).
It is of note that when physical tools like a gun, knife, or pistol are used in a
homicide, the victims may be able to flee because they can see that they are being killed.
However, the majority of these occurrences occur in rural areas where residences are
typically equipped with agricultural chemicals and insecticides, which can have sui-
cidal effects (Hirsch & Cukrowicz, 2014), which is very dangerous (Milroy, 1995). On
the other hand, in homicide cases, victims of poisoning are not informed that they are
going to be poisoned, thus they do not have a chance to survive the ordeal.
The much more frequent (two-thirds) causes of homicide-suicide done by women in
Pakistan on the grounds of divorce and separation are associated with significant
8OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying 0(0)
differences in the rules of family law governing marital relations and the position of a
woman after divorce (separation from a man).
The absence of mental disorders and serious somatic and neurological diseases
among criminals in Pakistan is associated with the local (socio-cultural characteristics)
mentality and possibly with the medical and psychiatric awareness of journalists. In
Russia, this information is also not entirely complete, but nevertheless, it is reliably
more often indicated in journalistic reports (Golenkov & Zotov, 2024).
The more frequent homicide-suicide of children by women in Russia is due to many
reasons, including the presence of mental causes. However, the triggering factors
behind separation between couples in Pakistan involve social and emotional problems
alongside the external interference. Additionally, in recent years, there has been an
alarming increase noticed in divorce rates in the country. As per a research report, a
noteworthy increase in the divorce rate was avouched from January 1, 2019, to
February 2022 (Muhammad Ilyas, 2022). To this end, marriage-related training should
be provided, especially in rural areas. The media is also the most significant source of
awareness against such misfits.
The predominance of jumping (falling) from heights after murders in the Russian
population is explained, on the one hand, by the pathomorphosis of suicidal behavior.
In the last decade, hanging as method of suicide has been mentioned in journalistic
reports from Chuvashia (a region of Russia) much less often (64.4% vs. 45.6% in 2012–
2021), and jumping from a height is more than twice as common (40.9% vs. 19.1%)
(Kozlov et al., 2022). On the other hand, there is a connection between a suicidal fall
from a height and the presence of mental (psychotic) disorders (Nielssen et al., 2010;
Reisch et al., 2008). In Russia, as is known, there has been an accumulation of cases of
suicide by falling from a height and the presence of mental disorders in suicidal people
(Golenkov & Zotov, 2024). Surprisingly, in Pakistan there were no falls from heights
and no mental disorders among aggressors.
Differences in the gender and age structure of victims can also be explained by the
socio-cultural characteristics of countries. In Russia, spousal (partner) homicides
clearly predominate among murders (Golenkov & Zotov, 2024).
The public’s perception of the growth in homicide-suicide instances is undoubtedly
shaped by the increased coverage of events in the press media. It was customary to
report offenses that might have serious consequences. Families need to obtain serious
mental health treatment because they are becoming a bigger concern in provoking
thoughts of murder and suicide, either together or independently. There is an urgent
need for qualitative studies in the work of the media and Internet sources in matters of
homicide-suicide cases (essential participation of mental health specialists as con-
sultants and/or interviewers; maximum decrease in historical facts, refusal to show the
passport data of the offenders and minimal analysis of the details of past crimes).
Also, the identification of depression in women, especially with young children
(doing so-called child homicide-suicides), is vital, when most often a woman in a sick
state of hopelessness kills her children (sometimes other family members), and then
herself. Most probably, such moods develop at the stage of pregnancy, and criminal
Mahesar et al. 9
aggression arises in times of development of postpartum depression (6–8 weeks after
childbirth). This highlights the need of mental health support system and the im-
portance of an early intervention.
This study has some limitations, which include; (a) data were extracted from
newspaper reports only; (b) news reports of homicide-suicide cases were included if
they were published between March 2020 and May 2023; (c) news reports were
selected with a focus on both homicide and suicide cases together; and finally; (d) only
news reports were analyzed in the study, not any systematic psychological autopsy
reports. Although our study has outlined some limitations, we firmly believe that the
results of the study reflect a few imperative points, which may provide insights for
policymakers in Russia and Pakistan for preventing the dreadful events of homicide-
suicide in the near future.
However, it’s interesting to note that our study’s strength is based on the news
material from several widely circulated and read newspapers from the selected regions;
these newspapers are currently freely accessible online and have many city editions
around the nations.
Conclusion
The study of homicide-suicide showed differences between the two countries in the
typological structure, gender and age groups of aggressors and their victims, suicide
weapons and causes of homicide-suicide. Pakistan and Russia did not differ signifi-
cantly in murder weapons. In general, there were more similarities in homicide-suicide
than differences. Many characteristics of homicide-suicide in the two countries cor-
respond to global patterns.
Acknowledgments
None.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship,
and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this
article.
ORCID iD
Rameez Ali Mahesar https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0921-0701
10 OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying 0(0)
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Author Biographies
Rameez Ali Mahesar is a Lecturer in the Department of Media Science, IQRA
University, Karachi, Pakistan. His research focuses on media reporting of suicide,
homicide, mental illness, and other health-related issues.
Andrei V. Golenkov (PhD) is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Medical
Psychology, Chuvash State University, Cheboksary, Russia. His research interests
include suicidology, general and forensic psychiatry, somnology, and sleep medicine.
Amna Fazail is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, The Women
University, Multan, Pakistan. She is also pursuing her PhD at the Institute of Media and
Communication Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan. Her
research interests cover media & political issues, news of homicide-suicides, and the
impact of social media on youth.
Ahmed Raza ul Mustafa (PhD) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of
Economics, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Nawabshah, Pakistan. He is
also a Research Fellow at Social Wellbeing Research Centre, Faculty of Business and
Economics, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
Pavel B. Zotov (PhD) is a Professor, Director of the Institute of Clinical Medicine,
Tyumen State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation,
Tyumen, Russia. He is also the Head of the Department of Palliative Medicine. His
research focus is on suicidal and deviant behavior as well as chronic pain, and palliative
medicine.
Sheikh Shoib is interested in unraveling the multiple dimensions of human behavior,
psychiatric aspects of endocrinological disorders, suicide, and stress-related disorders.
He has been active in rendering services to emotionally disturbed areas over the past
few years. He has done M.B.B.S from SKIMS Soura with a good percentage in
M.B.B.S. He qualified M.D psychiatry from the GMC SGR exam on the first attempt.
Mahesar et al. 13