Kasparov Warned by US of Killer Plot

Fri Oct 02 2026 07:08:44 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Former chess champ Garry Kasparov says U.S. security flagged him as a target after a Kremlin‑linked assassination network was uncovered.

World‑chess champion Garry Kasparov, now a Russian exile, says U.S. and Lithuanian security warned him of danger following the Justice Department’s indictment of a Kremlin‑linked assassination network. He claims he was told to beef up his safety and took the advice seriously. The indictment names five men allegedly plotting attacks on dissidents worldwide, including Kasparov’s rival Ilya Ponomarev. Kasparov decries the escalating threat of state‑backed assassinations, warning that no one can feel safe while Vladimir Putin is in power. The case highlights the broader clash between Russian political repression and Western protections for exiles.

Kasparov Warned by US of Killer Plot

Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov—now a leading Russian exile—has revealed that U.S. and Lithuanian security services flagged him as a target after a Kremlin‑linked assassination network was uncovered.

The Justice Department’s indictment last month names five alleged operatives who plotted attacks on dissidents abroad. Kasparov says he received a warning and stepped up his safety measures.

The case underscores the reach of Russian political repression, with other exiled figures, such as Ilya Ponomarev, now on high‑alert lists.

“My family and I cannot feel safe while Putin is in power,” Kasparov said, describing a new level of “dangerous escalation” brought by Russia.

The incident highlights the tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine and the global fight against state‑backed threats.