In a shocking development, Abakar Abakarov, a known critic of Vladimir Putin, was tragically discovered dead under suspicious circumstances in Turkey where he had been living in hiding. Abakarov, who was wanted by Russian authorities for allegedly inciting unrest in Dagestan, had been running an anti-Kremlin Telegram channel called Morning Dagestan. His body, bearing multiple stab wounds, was found at a rented villa in Istanbul by a cleaner, sparking an investigation by Turkish authorities.
Abakarov’s disappearance had raised concerns before his body was found, prompting speculation that he was evading Russian operatives seeking to harm him. The Russian FSB security service had been seeking his arrest in connection with anti-Putin activities and his alleged involvement in inciting violence in Dagestan.
The circumstances surrounding Abakarov’s death have drawn parallels to a previous incident in 2023 when a mob in Makhachkala airport in Dagestan targeted Jewish individuals, leading to injuries and unrest. Putin had blamed foreign intelligence agencies for instigating the violence through social media platforms. Abakarov was associated with former Russian MP Ilya Ponomarev, who is now a Ukrainian citizen and also faced accusations from Moscow.
Coincidentally, in a separate incident, French authorities apprehended a group of individuals suspected of being part of a plot to assassinate another Putin critic, Vladimir Osechkin, a human rights advocate exposing abuses in Russian prisons. Osechkin, like Abakarov, had also faced threats due to his activism against the Putin regime.
Expressing gratitude for the intervention, Osechkin thanked the French police for their swift action in detaining the suspected assassins, emphasizing the importance of international efforts in thwarting such dangerous schemes orchestrated by Putin and his allies. The suspects, hailing from Dagestan, were apprehended near Osechkin’s residence in Biarritz.
The incidents involving Abakarov and Osechkin highlight the risks faced by individuals who challenge Putin’s authority and expose human rights violations in Russia. The global response to these threats underscores the ongoing battle against political oppression and violence orchestrated by the Russian government.