On June 22, 1989, Souther reportedly committed suicide in Moscow at the age of 32, only three years after his defection.
Souther died from asphyxiation caused by carbon monoxide poisoning due to sealing himself inside his garage and started his car.
Soviet newspapers suggested he had been depressed from severe homesickness.
His death was announced by the Red Star newspaper, and he was eulogized by KGB chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov, who considered him to be very important agent.
Souther was buried in Kuntsevo Cemetery in Moscow.

Souther's suicide note contained the following text:
I don't have any regrets about our relations.
They were the long ones, they helped me to establish myself as an individual.
Everyone was tolerant, and fair towards me.
I hope that you, as it was always, forgive me the unwillingness to engage the last battle.

original text (in Russian): Я ни в коей мере не сожалею о наших отношениях.
Они были продолжительными и помогли мне вырасти как личности.
Все были терпимы и добры ко мне.
Надеюсь, вы, как это было всегда, простите меня за то, что я не захотел пойти в последний бой.

Despite some expressions which make it clear that it has been written by a foreigner, such as "as it was always," which is unusual for native Russian-speakers, who use the shortened form "as always," the note itself has been written in coherent, literary Russian.

In his earlier 1988 notes, Souther stated that Russia was his Dreamland, the land which astonished him, despite the loneliness he suffered living far from his birthplace.
On June 22, 1989, Souther reportedly committed suicide in Moscow at the age of 32, only three years after his defection. Souther died from asphyxiation caused by carbon monoxide poisoning due to sealing himself inside his garage and started his car. Soviet newspapers suggested he had been depressed from severe homesickness. His death was announced by the Red Star newspaper, and he was eulogized by KGB chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov, who considered him to be very important agent. Souther was buried in Kuntsevo Cemetery in Moscow.
Souther's suicide note contained the following text:
I don't have any regrets about our relations. They were the long ones, they helped me to establish myself as an individual. Everyone was tolerant, and fair towards me. I hope that you, as it was always, forgive me the unwillingness to engage the last battle.
original text (in Russian): Я ни в коей мере не сожалею о наших отношениях. Они были продолжительными и помогли мне вырасти как личности. Все были терпимы и добры ко мне. Надеюсь, вы, как это было всегда, простите меня за то, что я не захотел пойти в последний бой.
Despite some expressions which make it clear that it has been written by a foreigner, such as "as it was always," which is unusual for native Russian-speakers, who use the shortened form "as always," the note itself has been written in coherent, literary Russian.
In his earlier 1988 notes, Souther stated that Russia was his Dreamland, the land which astonished him, despite the loneliness he suffered living far from his birthplace.
Glenn Michael Souther