FBI Says It Foiled Russian Plot to Assassinate Putin Critic Living in U.S.

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that it had foiled a Russian plot to assassinate an opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime. The report was published by "NBC News." According to the report, the FBI uncovered a Russian plan to harm a Russian citizen living in Washington. Five people who have not yet been arrested are involved in the case. U.S. authorities said they were "members of an international assassination network operating on behalf of Russian intelligence."

According to the indictment, the network had been operating since at least 2024, recruiting American and foreign nationals to surveil targets, carry out assassinations, and damage civilian and military infrastructure in European countries identified with support for Ukraine. The Justice Department described the operation as "bold, aggressive, and wide-ranging."

It was also reported that a Venezuelan citizen living in New York was recruited to photograph and document locations connected to the assassination target. The individual received $1,500 in return. Later, he was offered $40,000 to "eliminate" the target, but refused.

In addition, according to the investigation, the assassination network attempted to recruit an American citizen to assassinate a Russian regime opponent living in Lithuania for approximately $25,000. After he refused, he was offered the job of setting fire to a warehouse or damaging an electrical substation. According to the indictment, the goal was to harm countries assisting Ukraine.