USA · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
DOJ Charges Five Suspects Linked to Russian Intelligence in Global Assassination Plots
Five individuals charged for operating a Russian intelligence-linked assassination network, active since 2024. Targets include supporters of Ukraine in the U.S. and Europe.
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DoJ charges five suspects
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that it charged five people suspected of belonging to Russian intelligence with conspiring to carry out attacks and assassination operations around the world, including inside the United States, while the five suspects remain at large.
“attempted this summer to assassinate a prominent Russian dissident”
The DOJ said the group, active since at least 2024, attempted this summer to assassinate a prominent Russian dissident believed to be living in the United States, and the plan failed after a recruited man refused to carry out the assassination in exchange for $40,000.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said the defendants allegedly operated within a "global assassination network that extended into the United States."
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the plots included "efforts to murder a Russian dissident who investigators believed was located in the Washington, D.C., area."
Recruitment, payments, and disruption
Prosecutors said the network allegedly recruited and paid individuals in the United States and elsewhere to conduct pre-operational surveillance and carry out targeted killings, while also commissioning attacks against civilian and military infrastructure in European countries aligned with Ukraine.
ANI reported that Suarez allegedly sent a recruit to two locations linked to the victim with "explicit instructions on how to conduct surveillance," and the recruit was offered between USD 1,000 and USD 1,500 for surveillance.
ANI added that the recruit later was offered USD 40,000 to "eliminate" or "disappear" the target, and after the offer was turned down Suarez tried to recruit multiple other people within the United States.
FBI officials said the alleged operation was disrupted through coordination among multiple field offices and partner agencies, with James C Barnacle Jr saying, "The FBI disrupted this operation through relentless work and rock-solid partnership."
Penalties and Kremlin response
The charges include conspiracy to finance terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and Khrameev, Suarez and Castro also face a conspiracy to commit murder for hire charge carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years.
“conspiracy to finance terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison”
Reuters reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday, "Until we hear and see any credible evidence and arguments based on tangible facts, we do not believe it is necessary to comment on these reports," and Reuters said Russia has previously denied conducting such plots on foreign soil, including in the United States.
ABC News said the indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of New York and that Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges at a White House Rose Garden press conference.
The DOJ stressed that the charges are allegations and that all five defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, while the indictment described the network as "working for the intelligence services of the Russian federation (the 'RIS Network')."