Intelligence Agencies Sound Alarm for Garry Kasparov Over Russian Hit Network Plot Security agencies in the United States and Lithuania issued urgent warnings to chess legend Garry Kasparov regarding Kremlin-directed plots targeting exiled dissidents on foreign soil. Garry Kasparov, the former world chess champion and prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has confirmed receiving urgent security warnings from both United States and Lithuanian authorities regarding direct threats to his life. Currently residing in the United States, Kasparov disclosed that he was specifically advised to take heightened personal safety measures, which he has since implemented. The disclosure highlights the expanding scope of cross-border operations targeting Kremlin opponents who have sought refuge in Western nations. Federal Indictment Unmasks Covert Operatives The warnings align directly with revelations from a criminal indictment recently unsealed by the United States Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors outlined charges against five individuals linked to Russian intelligence operations who allegedly orchestrated assassination plots and violent assaults across multiple sovereign territories, including within American borders. Investigators formally identified the entity as the RIS Network, establishing that it had been systematically tracking dissidents and defectors since at least 2024. Addressing the gravity of the case, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg stated that the accused operated as part of a global assassination apparatus designed to infiltrate domestic territory. Federal filings accuse the group of attempting to recruit both foreign operatives and American citizens to execute targeted contract killings under Kremlin direction. Five men have been indicted for orchestrating these schemes: Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez, and Angel Eduardo Castro. The Justice Department confirmed that all five suspects currently remain fugitives at large. Dissident Leaders Placed on High Alert Writing in his publication The Next Move, Kasparov explained that security officials alerted both him and Ivan Tyutrin, co-founder of the Free Russia Forum, regarding imminent safety concerns. While Kasparov noted that agents did not explicitly list them by name as targets in their initial briefings, both dissidents were instructed to enact rigorous security routines immediately. Reporting by the Spanish daily El Mundo revealed that authorities had extended identical warnings over the summer to Ilya Ponomarev, another vocal Russian opposition figure. Ponomarev holds a distinctive place in contemporary Russian political history as the sole member of parliament to cast a vote against the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, an act of defiance that ultimately forced him into exile in Ukraine. When approached by the Moscow Times regarding the intelligence warnings, Ponomarev declined to confirm or deny the direct tip-off, though he underscored that such activities represent an alarming new escalation in state-sponsored tactics abroad. Two Decades of Political Defiance Kasparov officially retired from top-flight competitive chess in 2005 to commit himself entirely to public life, organizing several pro-democracy grassroots campaigns that openly challenged the Kremlin's domestic policies. Facing mounting judicial harassment and political risks, he left Russia permanently in 2013 and has not set foot in the country since his departure. Despite the heightened peril, Kasparov remains defiant about his ongoing opposition work. Addressing the reality of the situation, he stated, "I will not stop and I will not hide, even if I thought it was possible to do so." He further observed that true safety remains impossible for his family as long as Putin retains power, noting that millions of other displaced citizens share the exact same predicament. Diplomatic Denials and State Designations Russian state authorities have progressively intensified legal measures against Kasparov over recent years. Following the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow designated him as a foreign agent, followed in 2024 by his addition to the official state registry of terrorists and extremists. Kasparov has categorically rejected both designations as politically motivated smears designed to delegitimize peaceful dissent. When the American indictment was formally unveiled, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims, telling reporters that Moscow would refrain from commenting on the allegations until presented with credible evidence or tangible facts. Nonetheless, investigative reporting confirms that Kasparov was placed under comprehensive, upgraded security protection over the summer, marking the first time such extensive defensive safeguards were deemed necessary since his relocation to the United States. What this means for you The unsealed indictment highlights significant security and legal ramifications for foreign dissidents and international law enforcement agencies. • Diplomatic Tensions: Allegations of state-sponsored hit squads operating inside the United States will further damage already strained relations between Washington and Moscow. This escalating friction reduces the likelihood of diplomatic cooperation on wider international security issues. • Exile Community Safety: Prominent political exiles residing across Europe and North America face heightened physical risks that require increased personal vigilance. Security agencies in host nations will likely have to allocate greater resources to monitor and protect vulnerable political figures. • Law Enforcement Mobilization: The ongoing hunt for the five indicted fugitives will trigger heightened coordination across global border controls and multilateral policing channels. Any domestic accomplices aiding foreign operatives face severe federal prosecution under expanded counter-espionage mandates. • Intelligence Alliances: Rapid cross-border alerts between agencies in Washington and Vilnius demonstrate strengthened intelligence sharing regarding external hybrid threats. Allied democracies will continue refining real-time warning systems to preempt assassination attempts directed from abroad. Why this happened The heightened threat environment stems from sustained efforts by foreign intelligence operatives to silence prominent political exiles vocal in their opposition to the Kremlin. • Covert Intelligence Operations: Federal investigations revealed that the RIS Network had been operational since at least 2024, actively planning assassinations and recruitment drives on foreign soil. The group sought to enlist domestic and foreign individuals to eliminate high-profile defectors. • Prominent Dissident Mobilization: Key opposition figures like Garry Kasparov and Ilya Ponomarev have established influential anti-war platforms from abroad following their exile. Their persistent public challenges to Kremlin policy have made them key symbolic targets for intimidation. • Escalating State Designations: Moscow had already designated Kasparov as a foreign agent in 2022 and added him to an extremist registry in 2024. The operational transition from domestic legal blacklisting to alleged foreign physical plots reflects an escalating counter-dissident strategy. Questions & Answers 1. What warning was issued to Garry Kasparov? Intelligence services from the United States and Lithuania alerted him that his life was in danger, advising him to take immediate safety precautions. 2. Who was charged in the United States Justice Department indictment? Federal authorities charged Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez, and Angel Eduardo Castro with organizing assassination plots. 3. Which other dissidents were reportedly warned about the plot? Free Russia Forum co-founder Ivan Tyutrin and former Russian parliamentarian Ilya Ponomarev were also warned regarding threats to their safety. 4. What was the Kremlin's response to the federal indictment? Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that he would not comment on the allegations without reviewing tangible facts or credible evidence. 5. When did Kasparov leave Russia, and what designations did Moscow impose on him? Kasparov went into exile in 2013. Russia designated him a foreign agent in 2022 and added him to a terrorist and extremist list in 2024. https://trendkia.com/en/europe/rusi-khuphiya-tntra-ki-sajisha-ko-lekara-america-aura-lithuania-ne-garry-kasparov-ko-kiya-satarka-41405 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.