Former chess world champion Garry Kasparov has said that U.S. and Lithuanian security services warned him that his life was at risk.
Kasparov, now an exile in the United States, said two dissidents – including himself and Free Russia Forum co‑founder Ivan Tyutrin – received warnings about security threats and were advised to take precautions.
His claims come after the Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging five people linked to a Kremlin‑backed network with plotting attacks against Russian critics worldwide, including in the United States.
Kasparov noted he was not told explicitly that he was a target, but he did receive general safety precautions and has placed himself under heightened protection for the first time since moving to the U.S.
He added that “my family and I will not be truly safe as long as President Vladimir Putin remains in power” and that the allegations represent a new level of escalation by Russian authorities.
The indictment names five alleged conspirators – Yuri Khrameev, Kirill Khrameev, Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, Yaidel Delgado Suarez and Angel Eduardo Castro. All remain at large.
According to U.S. officials, the so‑called RIS Network has been coordinating attacks and murders on Russian dissidents and defectors since at least 2024.
Russia’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the charges until evidence is presented.
