Russian media report assassination attempt on Russian oligarch Malofeev, who financed Russian militants
Russian Kremlin-aligned media have reported that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has allegedly prevented an assassination attempt on pro-Kremlin oligarch Konstantin Malofeev, who had financed Russian militants operating in Ukrainian Donbas.
Source: Russian state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti, citing the FSB
Quote from the FSB: "We have prevented an assassination attempt on Konstantin Malofeev, a public figure and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tsargrad group of companies, organised by the Ukrainian secret services."
Details: It is reported that the attempted murder of the oligarch was allegedly carried out by "Russian citizen Denis Kapustin, who lives in Ukraine and operates under the control of Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) and is also one of the organisers of the Russian Volunteer Corps."
The state-owned Russian news outlets recall that this person also took part "in an attack on villages in Bryansk Oblast", during which two local residents were allegedly killed.
According to the FSB, Malofeev's car was planned to be blown up with an explosive device attached under the vehicle as was the case with the murder of Russian journalist Darya Dugina.
The Russian news outlets posted a video allegedly showing the installation of an explosive device under the car, as well as its alleged defusing with the help of a robot.
The Russian Secret Service also stated that in August 2022, it allegedly prevented an act of sabotage organised by Kapustin: an explosion at an oil and gas facility in Volgograd Oblast. The alleged perpetrators, Russians Kainer and Ushkov, were then allegedly killed.
A criminal case was opened against Kapustin in Russia under the articles "terrorist act", "participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation" and "illegal trafficking in explosives".
Background:
- In 2017, pro-Kremlin Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeev, who is suspected of financing the militants of the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia, was put on the international wanted list, and the pre-trial investigation against him was suspended.
- In July 2020, the Google-owned video hosting service YouTube blocked the account of the Russian conservative TV channel Tsargrad without any possibility of restoration.
- In early February, a Manhattan federal court district judge allowed prosecutors to confiscate US$5.4 million belonging to Malofeev.
- US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that assets confiscated from the sanctioned Russian oligarch would be used to help Ukraine.
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