17 hrs ago
US Charges Five in Alleged Russian-Backed Murder Plots
U.S. prosecutors charged five people over alleged plots connected to Russian intelligence services.
They say the group helped arrange surveillance and planned attacks against Russian dissidents.
One alleged target was believed to be in the Washington, D.C., area.
Other targets were in the United States and Lithuania.
Prosecutors say people in the United States were recruited to watch the targets.
One recruit was allegedly offered $40,000 to make a person disappear.
Another was allegedly offered $25,000 to kill someone in Lithuania.
Three defendants also face charges related to allegedly hiring someone to commit murder.
The defendants were still at large, and Russia has denied carrying out similar plots abroad.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged five people over alleged Russian-backed surveillance, recruitment and targeted-killing plots.
The defendants are Russian nationals Yuri Khrameev and his son, Kirill Khrameev; Cuban nationals Oemis Romagoza Durruthy and Yaidel Delgado Suarez; and Venezuelan national Angel Eduardo Castro.
All five were charged with an alleged conspiracy to finance terrorism, while Yuri Khrameev, Yaidel Delgado Suarez and Angel Eduardo Castro also faced murder-for-hire conspiracy charges.
Investigators said recruits in the United States were offered $40,000 to eliminate a person in the United States and $25,000 to kill someone in Lithuania.
The Justice Department said the defendants were still at large; Russia has previously denied conducting similar plots abroad, and its embassy did not immediately comment.
- Who
- The U.S. Department of Justice charged Russian nationals Yuri Khrameev and Kirill Khrameev, Cuban nationals Oemis Romagoza Durruthy and Yaidel Delgado Suarez, and Venezuelan national Angel Eduardo Castro.
- What
- They were charged over alleged Russian-backed surveillance, recruitment, terrorism-financing and murder-for-hire plots.
- Where
- The alleged activities involved the United States, including the Washington, D.C., area, and Lithuania; prosecutors said the plots could extend around the world.
- When
- The indictment was unsealed on Tuesday, and the report was dated September 15.
- Why
- The Justice Department alleges the defendants worked for Russian intelligence services to surveil, recruit people for, and carry out attacks against Russian dissidents and others.
U.S. Justice Department Allegations
Russian Denial and Lack of Comment
Connection to Russian intelligence
U.S. Justice Department Allegations
The Justice Department alleges that the five defendants worked for Russian intelligence services to conduct surveillance, recruitment and attacks, including murders, around the world.
Russian Denial and Lack of Comment
Russia has previously denied conducting plots of this kind on foreign soil, including in the United States.
Planned killings
U.S. Justice Department Allegations
U.S. prosecutors say the network targeted Russian dissidents and offered recruits payments of $40,000 and $25,000 for killings in the United States and Lithuania.
Russian Denial and Lack of Comment
The Russian embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment, so no specific response to these charges was reported.
Key facts
- Defendants
- Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez and Angel Eduardo Castro
- Main charges
- All five faced an alleged conspiracy to finance terrorism; three also faced conspiracy to commit murder for hire.
- Alleged affiliation
- The Justice Department said the defendants worked for Russian intelligence services.
- Alleged U.S. offer
- A recruit was allegedly offered $40,000 to eliminate or make disappear a person residing in the United States.
- Alleged Lithuania offer
- Another U.S. recruit was allegedly offered $25,000 to kill a person living in Lithuania.
- Status
- The Justice Department said the five defendants were still at large.
- Russian response
- The Russian embassy did not immediately respond; Russia has previously denied conducting such plots on foreign soil.
Sources
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