Putin brings back Stalin-era manhunts for Russian expats: ‘Political assassinations occur’
Russian Dissidents Face Ongoing Threats
Imagine falling ill on an overnight train ride to Munich, only to be scolded by a frustrated German detective. This was the reality for a dissident Russian journalist who had been warned of potential assassination attempts by associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin. For three months, she had suffered from mysterious and miserable ailments, seeking help from perplexed doctors but not contacting the police.
A Detective’s Warning
“I don’t understand why it took you so long to contact us,” the detective told the journalist. “We have political murders happen here. Russia’s secret services are active in this country. And your recklessness, yours and your colleagues’, is just beyond the pale.”
This journalist, Elena Kostyuchenko, had been forced to stop covering the war in Ukraine after learning that she was marked for assassination. She had laughed off the idea that Putin’s henchmen would follow her to Munich, but she soon realized she was not alone. Many Russian dissidents have experienced similar alarming physical ailments since Putin’s campaign to overthrow the Ukrainian government began.
These threats persist, despite efforts by Western allies to curtail Russian intelligence operations in Europe. Expulsions of Russian officials and crackdowns on spy hubs have occurred, but the danger remains. Even a “rundown seaside guesthouse” in England became the scene of a raid targeting Bulgarian individuals accused of spying for Russia.
Expatriate Russian journalists, like Kostyuchenko, have become targets. The Insider, an independent Russian outlet, has consulted doctors and experts who believe Kostyuchenko was likely poisoned. She is part of a trio of journalists and dissidents who have experienced similar ailments, raising suspicions of foul play.
A Warning to Others
“We are not safe, and we will never be safe until the political regime changes in Russia,” Kostyuchenko wrote. “Our work is what hastens its end, but the regime will defend itself.”
While precautions are taken by those at risk, the attacks on overseas journalists seem futile and costly for the Russian regime. The evidence of targeted assassinations raises concerns, but it also highlights the determination of those who challenge Putin’s control.
As the world watches the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the mass exodus of Russian dissidents, it becomes clear that the interplay of interests has led to an expansion of Russian intelligence operations against expatriate critics. The echoes of Soviet-era tactics are undeniable, but the fight for freedom of speech and human rights continues.
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