In 1990, the KGB opened a criminal case on industrial smuggling against the Spark JV, whose director was Tsvetkov.

On 18 October 2002, Tsvetkov was shot dead near the Magadan Oblast representative office on New Arbat Avenue in Moscow.

The main version of the assassination is connected with the distribution of fishing quotas in the region and attempts by organized criminal groups (including ethnic ones) to weaken government control of Magadan Oblast gold mines.

The suspects in the murder were Russian citizens Alexander Zakharov and Martin Babakekhyan.

In 2011, the jury found that the guilt of Martin Babakekhyan, Artur Anisimov, Alexander Zakharov and Masis Akhunts in involvement in the murder was proven.