The angle I’m considering is that Russia wants to convince the world he is dead. However that doesn’t make much sense either because he could reveal himself at any moment and hasn’t done that.
So perhaps he wanted Putin to think he got him so that he can shake him off his back for good? It’s possible but it seems really unlikely.
I’m not really sure what to think. From the half hearted coup to now, the series of events that played out didn’t add up well for me. Perhaps he really is dead and things are just as weird as they seem for no particular reason at all.