[1][2] He was the son of a Soviet journalist, Genrikh Borovik, who worked for many years as a foreign correspondent in the U.S. Borovik first appeared on Soviet television in late 1980s as one of the hosts of a highly progressive and successful Vzglyad (which literally translates as The View or The Look), a kind of satirical television show watched weekly by as many as 100 million people.

His Top Secret TV programme often focused on corruption cases involving Russia's political and economic elite.

The programme, as well as Borovik's print publications, Top Secret and Versia, were openly critical of Vladimir Putin.

[4] In one of his last papers, he quoted Vladimir Putin, who said: "There are three ways to influence people: blackmail, vodka, and the threat to kill.

The official investigation into the crash by the Interstate Aviation Committee revealed that whilst snow was removed from the aircraft exterior, de-icing fluid was not applied.