Moscow Court Charges Seven People in Plot to Kill Russian Journalists
A Moscow court has issued criminal charges against seven individuals accused of plotting to kill two prominent Russian journalists in a Ukrainian-backed conspiracy, according to Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency. The court has approved the detention of the suspects until September 14 under charges of “hooliganism.” Among the accused are five minors born in 2005 and 2006, as well as two men believed to be part of an organized group.
Russia’s FSB security service reportedly detained an unspecified number of individuals on Friday who were conducting reconnaissance near the homes and workplaces of journalists Margarita Simonyan, head of state media outlet RT, and Ksenia Sobchak, who ran against President Vladimir Putin in 2018.
Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, criticized Russia, stating that the country was living in an absurd “constructed mythology.” Podolyak downplayed the significance of the case, claiming that the journalists “do not play any important role” in the war or Russia’s global standing.
According to the Interfax news agency, the FSB stated that the detainees had admitted to preparing attacks on the two women on behalf of Ukraine and were promised a reward of 1.5 million roubles ($16,620) for each assassination.
Simonyan, a vocal supporter of Russia’s war in Ukraine, posted a message on Telegram regarding the alleged plot, urging the security services to “Keep on working, brothers!” Sobchak, whose late father Anatoly Sobchak was Putin’s political mentor, expressed gratitude to the involved services if the assassination plans were true. She also emphasized that any act of terror is evil, regardless of the circumstances.
In the past year, bomb attacks in Russia have claimed the lives of prominent pro-war Russian figures, including journalist Darya Dugina and military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky. Russia has blamed these killings on Ukraine, while Kyiv has denied involvement and portrayed them as evidence of Russian infighting.
In May, a prominent Russian nationalist writer, Zakhar Prilepin, was wounded in a car bombing that killed his driver. Investigators have detained a suspect who admitted to acting on behalf of Ukraine.
The case continues to unfold, with the detained individuals facing criminal charges and further investigations underway.
Reporting by Reuters; Editing by David Holmes, Christina Fincher, and Diane Craft
What are the potential implications of the charges of “hooliganism” in the case of the plot to assassinate two Russian journalists?
A case relating to a plot to assassinate two Russian journalists with the support of Ukraine. The Moscow court has now formally charged these individuals, with the charges including “hooliganism.” The suspects, including five minors aged between 15 and 16, will remain in detention until September 14. Additionally, two adult men who are thought to be part of an organized group have also been accused in the case.
According to Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency, the FSB security service arrested an undisclosed number of individuals in connection with the aforementioned plot.
It is crucial to see the perpetrators of such heinous crimes brought to justice. The charges against the seven individuals highlight the gravity of the situation and send a strong message that targeting journalists will not go unnoticed. Press freedom must be protected, and this move by the Moscow court is a step in the right direction.