Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Kasparov Says US, Lithuania Warned Him of Assassination Threat
Garry Kasparov is a former world chess champion who criticizes Russia’s government.
He says security officials in the United States and Lithuania warned him that he could be in danger.
The warnings came after U.S. authorities charged five people over alleged plans connected to Russian intelligence.
Those plans supposedly involved watching and possibly attacking Russian opposition figures living outside Russia.
News reports have named Kasparov and two other activists as possible targets.
Kasparov said officials did not tell him he was definitely targeted.
He said he would take precautions but would not stop speaking out.
The Kremlin rejected the allegations as unsupported by credible evidence.
Garry Kasparov said security services in the United States and Lithuania warned him that his life was in danger.
The warnings followed U.S. charges against five people over alleged Russian intelligence-linked plots targeting opposition figures abroad.
Kasparov said he and Lithuanian activist Ivan Tyutrin were not told they were explicit targets but were advised to take precautions.
Unconfirmed reports have named Kasparov, Ilya Ponomaryov and Tyutrin as possible targets.
Kasparov said he would continue opposing Vladimir Putin, while the Kremlin said it had seen no credible evidence supporting the U.S. allegations.
- Who
- Garry Kasparov, Ivan Tyutrin, Ilya Ponomaryov and five people charged by U.S. authorities are central to the report.
- What
- Kasparov said U.S. and Lithuanian security services warned him of danger following alleged plots to assassinate Russian opposition figures abroad.
- When
- Kasparov made the statement on Wednesday; the U.S. charges were announced the previous month.
- Where
- The alleged plots concerned opposition figures in the United States and Lithuania; Kasparov lives in New York.
- Why
- Authorities allegedly linked the plots to Russian intelligence, while the Kremlin said there was no credible evidence.
Kasparov and U.S. Authorities
Kremlin and Russian Position
Whether a credible plot existed
Kasparov and U.S. Authorities
U.S. authorities charged five people over alleged plots involving Russian intelligence, and Kasparov said security services warned that his life was in danger.
Kremlin and Russian Position
The Kremlin said there was no reason to comment without credible evidence and facts, and Russia has previously denied conducting such plots abroad.
Kasparov’s response
Kasparov and U.S. Authorities
Kasparov said he would take precautions but would not hide or stop opposing Vladimir Putin.
Kremlin and Russian Position
The Kremlin rejected the basis of the allegations rather than accepting that Kasparov was an explicit target.
- Main figure
- Garry Kasparov, a Russian opposition figure and former world chess champion
- Warnings
- Security services in the United States and Lithuania advised Kasparov and Ivan Tyutrin to take precautions
- U.S. charges
- Five people were charged over alleged plots involving Russian intelligence
- Possible targets
- Unconfirmed reports named Kasparov, Ilya Ponomaryov and Ivan Tyutrin
- Kasparov’s response
- He said he would continue campaigning against Vladimir Putin’s government
- Kremlin position
- The Kremlin said it saw no reason to comment without credible evidence and facts
- Kasparov’s Russian status
- Russia has listed him as a foreign agent and as a terrorist and extremist