Russian dissident Garry Kasparov says US warned him of danger to his life
Exiled Russian dissident Garry Kasparov has revealed that US and Lithuanian security services warned him of threats to his life. This follows a US indictment of individuals linked to a Kremlin-backed network accused of targeting dissidents abroad.
Why it matters
The report highlights the ongoing risks faced by political opponents of the Russian government and the international security implications of transnational repression.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Garry Kasparov retired from competitive chess in 2005 to found political opposition movements in Russia
An exiled Russian opposition figure living in the US says he was warned by American and Lithuanian security services that his life was in danger.
Former chess world champion Garry Kasparov said he was one of two dissidents told to take precautions, which he had done.
His comments come after the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment earlier this month charging five people who allegedly work for a network linked to the Kremlin with plotting attacks and murders in countries including the US, focusing on Russian dissidents and defectors.
Kasparov wrote in his publication The Next Move that he had not been told explicitly that he and fellow Free Russia Forum co-founder Ivan Tyutrin were considered targets, but said both had been warned about their safety.
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