Declassified US Intelligence Document Points to Russian Assassinations Abroad
The US intelligence community has unsealed a report that implicates Russian leadership, notably President Vladimir Putin, in the targeted killings of political opponents abroad. This revelation, reported by Bloomberg, has cast a spotlight on the alleged clandestine activities of the Kremlin.
Targeting Opposition Leaders in Former Soviet Republics
The document highlights several instances where political and opposition figures in former Soviet republics, viewed as threats by the Kremlin, were allegedly targeted. A prominent example is the case involving former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. Yushchenko, a pro-Western presidential candidate in 2004, was poisoned and almost lost his life. The report suggests that Russian intelligence may have laced his food with the toxic chemical dioxin.
Alleged Assassinations and Murder Attempts
The report also details other alleged attempts on the lives of opposition figures. It cites the car bombing of Zelimkhan Yandarbiev, a former leader of the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Further, it points to the poisoning of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006, and the mysterious death of businessman Alexander Perepelichni in England in 2012 while jogging near his mansion.
Eastern Ukraine Separatists in the Crosshairs
The declassified document also suggests that separatists in eastern Ukraine, who do not pledge allegiance to Moscow, might be potential Kremlin targets. It cites the 2015 assassination of Oleksandr Bednov, the defense minister of the unrecognized Luhansk People’s Republic, as a possible example.
Putin’s Alleged Authorization to Kadyrov
Moreover, the US intelligence report speculates that Putin may have granted Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen Republic’s leader known for his staunch loyalty to Putin, the autonomy to eliminate Chechens living abroad. Most of the murders linked to Kadyrov’s associates have been carried out by gunfire, whereas those that the intelligence services attribute to Russian secret services have employed a variety of methods, including poisoning.
US Intelligence’s Confidence in the Report
The US intelligence community has expressed a high degree of confidence in the findings of this report. This confidence underscores the seriousness of the allegations and strengthens the belief in their credibility.
