US reveals scheme for assassination attempts on Kasparov and opposition figures organised by Russian intelligence

Warnings from US and Lithuanian intelligence

In mid-September, US authorities uncovered preparations for a series of murders targeting Russian opposition figures. Among the potential targets were Garry Kasparov, Ilya Ponomaryov, and Ivan Tyurin, who co-founded the independent platform “Free Russia Forum” with Kasparov. The El Mundo newspaper reported on this network, linked to Russian intelligence services, citing sources in the entourage of politicians.

According to journalists, over the past months, Kasparov, Ponomaryov, and Tyurin received official warnings from US and Lithuanian authorities regarding threats to their lives.

Assassination plans in the US and Vilnius

According to published information, Kasparov and Ponomaryov were planned to be killed on US territory. As for the third figure in the case, Ivan Tyurin, the criminals were preparing to commit violence in Vilnius, using a knife or arson. The main objective of the operation, as noted by the media, was to “eliminate one or two dissidents and simultaneously send a harsh signal to others”.

Garry Kasparov, who emigrated in 2013 and settled in New York, received information from US authorities about the preparation of an assassination in the summer. Following this, he was placed under enhanced security, sources in his entourage said.

The role of a Venezuelan in the criminal scheme

Preparations for the assassination of Ilya Ponomaryov progressed the furthest. A Venezuelan citizen residing in Brooklyn participated in carrying out the tasks. He acted on the instructions of his compatriot Angel Eduardo Castro, who is one of the participants in the network.

The Venezuelan rented two properties in Washington linked to the individual referred to by the US prosecution as “victim No. 1”. A reward of 40,000 dollars was offered for the killing of this person. The man sent several photos and videos but made it clear that he agreed only to reconnaissance, not direct assassination. He was then offered to find another executor, according to US Department of Justice materials.

Russian TV journalist and public figure Vladimir Kara-Murza could also have been among the potential targets in the US.

Threat to activists in Lithuania

In Lithuania, Ivan Tyurin was a potential target for Russian intelligence services. He was under security for part of 2024, which coincided with the period of activity of the network uncovered during the US investigation. Recently, police again recorded signs that Tyurin was becoming the object of criminals' attention, although it is not unequivocal from the case materials whether he was specifically planned to be killed in Lithuania.

Bashkir activist Ruslan Gabbasov, who advocates for the independence of Bashkortostan, was also on the list of targets in Lithuania. In 2025, he discovered a surveillance device in his car, and in spring 2026, Lithuanian authorities reported preventing an assassination attempt on his life.

Code names for stages of the assassination

To plan each stage of the assassination, network participants used specific code words. The phrase “measure the plot and take dimensions” was used to denote preliminary surveillance, while the word “construction” meant the direct assassination.