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Russia

Putin accuses West of plotting to kill Russian journalists

LONDON, April 25 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said his main spy agency had foiled what he cast as a Western plot to kill a prominent Russian journalist.
Reuters
Orthodox Easter celebrations in Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia, 24 April 2022. EPA-EFE/ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO / POOL

"This morning, the Federal Security Service stopped the activities of a terrorist group that planned to attack and kill one famous Russian TV journalist," Putin told prosecutors.

"They have moved to terror - to preparing the murder of our journalists," Putin said.

He did not immediately provide evidence to support his claims. Reuters was unable to immediately verify the claims.

The Interfax news agency said that members of a nationalist group had been detained by Russian authorities. Interfax said. the group, acting on the orders of Ukrainian spies, was plotting to kill Russian journalist Vladimir Solovyev.

Putin said the West was trying to destroy Russia from the inside but that such attempts would fail. He said the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency was directing attempts to undermine Russia and advising the Ukrainian government.

Putin also said foreign media organisations and social media had been used by the West to confect provocations against Russia's armed forces. Such actions, he said, should be stopped.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

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Beyond Fedup 27 April 2022 06:26 AM

What a lying scumbag! This odious monster, who kills and persecutes journalists if they don’t tow the Kremlin and party line, is suddenly concerned about a journalist!! It could only be a journalist who spews state lies and propaganda. The hypocrisy of this vile thug knows no bounds.