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It’s a story that sounds like something out of an agent movie: in August, Russian government critic and opposition leader Alexej Navalny (44) was poisoned with a chemical nerve agent called Novitschock; barely survived. As the «Spiegel» writes, eight employees of the Russian national secret service FSB are behind the attack. The names and photos of the members of the suspected assassination squad have already been released.
OVCW confirms: Navalny was actually poisoned with Novichok(01:23)
According to its own information, the news magazine is based on a joint investigation with the research platform “Bellingcat”, “The Insider” and the US news channel “CNN”. Y: Alexei Navalny himself spread the reports and says: “I know who wanted to kill me.”
Military Scientists and Chemical Warfare Experts
According to “Spiegel”, these eight men are said to belong to the Russian assassin squad:
- Oleg Tajakin (40) – the doctor works at the Institute of Criminology of the Russian national secret service FSB; coordinated the death squad.
- Alexej Alexandrow (39): The ER doctor with the code name “Alexej Frolow” has been in the secret service since 2013. He is supposed to be the top agent on the team.
- Ivan Ossipow (44): The doctor has been in the FSB secret service since 2012, alias “Ivan Spiridonow”.
- Vladimir Panjajew (40): The paramedic is said to have lived at the same address as Navalny for a time.
- Michail Schwez (43): Has the code name “Michail Stepanow”; its registered address is that of the FSB Special Operations Center.
- Alexej Krivoschekow (41): Before joining the secret service, he worked in the Ministry of Defense.
- Konstantin Kudrjawzew (41): His name is “Konstantin Sokolow” and he previously worked in a military laboratory for chemical warfare agents.
- Stanislaw Makschakow (age unknown) – is a military scientist, employee of the FSB Center for Special Techniques and previously worked at the State Institute for Organic Synthesis, which developed new forms of chemical weapons, including Novichok.
Attacked by killers since 2017
The alleged agents were identified after evaluating the cell phone, GPS and location data connections of more than a dozen FSB agents and analyzing numerous passenger lists on Russian scheduled flights, the “Spiegel” wrote. This also allows us to understand that Navalny was said to have been in the sights of these men since 2017; they repeatedly traveled to their appointments.
Since the poison attack, Navalny has been in Germany for rehab. However, after his recovery, he wants to return to Russia.
The video should show the moment: Kremlin Critic Navalny Poisoned With Water Bottle(00:56)
Russia denies everything
Russia repeatedly denied its involvement in the case, emphasizing that all of Novichok’s state stocks had been destroyed; the recipe had also been known for a long time in the West. The case put great strain on relations between Berlin and Moscow.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin (68) had only said Thursday that he saw no requirement for an investigation in Russia. Moscow only wants to investigate if there is evidence of a crime. However, so far they have not been shipped from abroad, Putin said. “Even if a person nearly died, that does not mean that criminal proceedings should be opened in all cases.”
Shot in the street
Critics of the Kremlin live dangerously: in August, activist and journalist Yegor Zhukov (22) was attacked and seriously wounded in Moscow. The blogger had to be taken to a hospital due to lacerations to his face and suspected traumatic brain injury. Zhukov also interviewed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
In February 2015, Boris Nemtsov, a 55-year-old Kremlin critic, was shot dead on the street in Moscow. According to investigators, he was fired from a car. (support)
