Suspected Russian-linked plot disrupted

A suspected planetary crippled with elements of espionage has unfolded successful Greece, where authorities arrested a 55-year-old Greek from the erstwhile Soviet Union successful Thessaloniki, accused of engagement successful a web allegedly readying assassinations successful Lithuania.

According to judicial documents from a Vilnius determination court, the radical is believed to person operated connected behalf of Russian quality services. The alleged targets were Russian exile activistic Ruslan Gabbasov, who has governmental asylum successful Lithuania, and Lithuanian nationalist Valdas Bartkevicius, a vocal professional of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both planned killings were ultimately thwarted.

Investigators accidental the cognition began successful January 2025, when the Thessaloniki suspect allegedly participated successful aboriginal communications with a Georgian intermediary tasked with recruiting hitmen. Two individuals agreed to transportation retired the attacks for €40,000 each. The suspects reportedly received photos of some targets via WhatsApp and conducted surveillance successful Vilnius, tracking regular routines and movements. Messages cited successful the lawsuit see statements such as: “This is his house, but helium is not here, we will spot him tomorrow,” and, “He is next.”

Authorities allege that operatives mapped information cameras, monitored residences, and adjacent placed a tracking instrumentality connected Gabbasov’s car. Surveillance worldly was shared via encrypted apps with a fig identified lone arsenic “Karl,” described arsenic a higher-ranking coordinator.

Funds were transferred to facilitate travel and logistics, including a €5,000 transfer sent from Thessaloniki. The suspects besides sought to procure a weapon, with 1 elder subordinate allegedly purchasing a speargun. Lithuanian authorities carried retired raids connected March 12, 2025, arresting respective suspects and issuing European warrants for others. The Thessaloniki suspect, arrested successful February, denies the charges and is contesting extradition, citing hazard to his life. Greek courts person approved the extradition request, pending a last ruling.