The Russian spy network planned attacks on oppositionists in the USA and Lithuania

According to information described by "El Mundo", Kasparov was to be warned by the American authorities about the threat in the summer and was given special protection. The former world chess champion has been living in the USA since 2013 and has remained one of the most recognizable critics of the Kremlin for years.

Charges against five people

The American prosecutor's office accuses five suspects of participating in a conspiracy to finance terrorist acts. Three of them are also responsible for preparing a contract killing.

Among the people indicated are - according to "El Mundo" - former Russian intelligence officer Yuri Khramiev, his son Kirill, associated with the FSB, as well as two Cuban citizens and a Venezuelan citizen. All of them are to stay in Russia and remain free.

Investigators believe that the network, which has been operating since at least 2024, recruited local collaborators for tasks in countries supporting Ukraine.

Observation in Washington and codenames

One of the targets was to be Ilya Ponomaryov - a former deputy of the Russian Duma, who in 2014 was the only one to vote against the annexation of Crimea by Russia. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, he became involved in activities on the Ukrainian side and resides, among others, in the USA.

According to "El Mundo", the person recruited for surveillance was to record places related to the potential victim in Washington. For the transfer of photos and recordings, the offer ranged from $1,000 to $1,500, and the remuneration for the murder alone was said to be $40,000. dollars.

In the conspirators' communication, the phrase "measuring the area" was supposed to mean earlier reconnaissance, while the word "construction" meant committing a murder. The attack did not take place because the person conducting the observation refused to participate in the rest of the operation.

The trail also leads to Lithuania

According to the publication, the Russian network was also planning an attack in Vilnius. Potential targets were Russian oppositionists residing in Lithuania, including co-founder of the Free Russia Forum Ivan Tyutrin and Bashkir activist Ruslan Gabbasov.

"El Mundo" reminds that Gabbasov found a tracking device in his car in 2025. A Lithuanian investigation would later show that his murder was planned.