Foiled Plot: Putin escapes assassination attempt

MOSCOW: Security services in Russia and Ukraine said on Monday they had foiled a plot to kill Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, but his opponents ridiculed the announcement as a campaign stunt six days before he runs in Russia’s presidential election. Russia’s pro-government Channel One television said two men arrested belonged to a group seeking an Islamist state in Russia’s North Caucasus. A computer seized contained numerous video files showing Putin’s motorcade moving about Moscow, said the report. “Our final goal was to go to Moscow and attempt to assassinate Putin,” a bruised man described as one of the plotters was shown saying in a police interview transmitted on Channel One. “Our deadline was after the election of the president of Russia,” said the man, who was named as Adam Osmayev.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2012.