Garry Kasparov, the target of an alleged assassination plot orchestrated by Russia

Russian secret services allegedly planned the assassination of former State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev and the founders of the “Free Russia Forum,” Garry Kasparov and Ivan Tyutrin, according to sources close to them cited by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo. The three live abroad, and the plan allegedly aimed to kill one or two opposition figures in order to intimidate the rest of the Russian opposition.

In the summer of this year, U.S. authorities allegedly warned Kasparov that he had become a target of the Russian services. A reward of $40,000 was allegedly offered for Ponomarev, identified in U.S. prosecutors’ documents as “Victim No. 1.” A Venezuelan recruited in the United States allegedly surveilled his targets and took photographs and recordings, but refused to carry out the assassination.

Another target was allegedly due to be attacked in Vilnius, by stabbing or arson. It is unclear whether this was Tyutrin or Ruslan Gabbasov, a supporter of Bashkortostan’s independence. Lithuanian authorities announced in 2026 that they had foiled an attempt against him.

The operations were allegedly coordinated by the RIS network, associated with Russian services and active since at least 2024. In September, the U.S. Department of Justice charged five alleged individuals with terrorism financing, and three of them also with conspiracy to commit murder for hire. The network allegedly targeted opposition figures, defectors, and states supporting Ukraine.