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Subscribe to RSSRussia's security services say they averted a plot by Chechen separatists to assassinate Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The alleged conspiracy comes just a week before presidential elections and has brought criticism from Putin's opponents who suggest the timing of the announcement is suspicious. ITN's Lindsey Hilsum reports.
Updated at 9:25 a.m. ET: MOSCOW -- Security forces have uncovered a plot to assassinate Russia's Vladimir Putin and have arrested suspects linked to a Chechen rebel leader known for other terror attacks, Russian state television reported Monday.
Pro-government Channel One said that the suspects were plotting to kill Putin in Moscow immediately after the March 4 presidential election, in which he is all but certain to reclaim the presidency.
The report, which included televised confessions by two suspects, is likely to boost support for Putin as he seeks his third term as president in an election Sunday.
Channel One said the suspects were acting on instructions from Chechen warlord Doku Umarov and had been arrested in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odessa after an accidental explosion Jan. 4 while they were trying to manufacture explosives at a rented apartment.
Amanda Walker, Moscow correspondent for Britain's Sky News, pointed out that Channel One was a "staunch Putin supporter."
The Ukrainian Security Service said earlier this month it had detained a man sought by Russian authorities on charges of terrorism and two of his accomplices in Odessa on Feb. 4, but said nothing at the time about them being linked to an anti-Putin plot.
Its spokeswoman, Marina Ostapenko, said Monday the announcement in Moscow came only now because the Russian special service was conducting its own investigation. She confirmed the main suspect was involved in a plot to kill Putin, but didn't elaborate.
There was no immediate explanation for the different number of suspects cited by Russia and Ukraine.
CHANNEL ONE/AFP/Getty Images
An undated photograph taken from a Russian television report shows Ilya Pyanzin, who reportedly was conspiring to kill Vladimir Putin.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the report to the ITAR-Tass news agency, but refused to make any further comment.
A laidback Yankee in trouble in Putin's court
Channel One said two of the alleged members of the group arrived in Ukraine from the United Arab Emirates via Turkey with instructions from Umarov, the top military leader for the Chechen rebels. One of them, a Chechen, was killed during the accidental explosion in Odessa and another one, Kazakhstan citizen Ilya Pyanzin, was wounded in the blast and arrested.
Pyanzin led the investigators to their contact in Odessa, Adam Osmayev, a Chechen who previously had lived in London and had been sought by Russia since 2007, the report said. The TV station showed footage of Osmayev's arrest in Odessa with black-clad special troops bursting in and a half-naked, bloodied Osmayev on his knees, his head bowed down.
Speaking to Channel One from custody in Ukraine, Osmayev described the group's mission: "Our goal was to go to Moscow and try to kill Prime Minister Putin ... Our deadline was after the Russian presidential election."
Both of Osmayev's hands were bandaged, and his face was covered in green dots from an antiseptic used to treat his cuts.
Russians rally for Putin -- and 2 days off work
Russian and Ukrainian special services wouldn't comment on the report.
The report is likely to boost support for Putin as he seeks his third term as president in an election Sunday.
But some Russians reacted to the news with skepticism, making clear on social network sites that they did not believe the report or suggesting the timing of the announcement was intended to attract sympathy for Putin before the election.
Opinion polls show Putin, a former KGB officer who crushed separatists during a war he launched in the Chechnya region in the North Caucasus before he became president, will easily win the election and reclaim the post he held from 2000 until 2008.
But he faces a growing opposition protest movement and wants to secure outright victory on Sunday, averting a runoff that might dent his authority.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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- Pakistan finishes demolishing bin Laden house
- Syria activist: 'You hear the sounds of torture all the time'
- Taliban claims responsibility for deadly airport blast
- Mandela, 93, leaves hospital after minor surgery
- Canadian sled dog killings prompt new rules
The Associated Press, Reuters and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
and msnbc knows something about being pro government.
Sounds like he´s borrowing a page out of Hugo´s playbook.
Another Putin concoction to try to steal the election, if the Russians believe this; they are in big doodoo.
Wow, talk about a page from the GOP Teabags...pandering to the fears of the ill informed....
Russians need to elect a tougher guy, not a wanna be....
You were talking Putin and not Obama right?
Wow Doc, you harbor those fears too?
I can't believe this! Docholiday seems to say that the Tea Party has, and is capable, of creating a false dilemna to try to drum up support for themselves! What is the current to-do about contraception but a false, and contrived situation created by Obama and his cronies in the leftist press. I have literally never heard a single Republican candidate wanting to eliminate contraception, but, the press tries to make the case that every conservative wants to make sure that rape victims, domestic violence victims and every woman on the planet will be forced to have unwanted pregnancies because of "any" Republican being elected! Just wait until a few weeks before the November elections and see if a "terrorist plot" involving either the so-called Tea Party or another "wacked out" so-called "conservative" group hits the front pages. This will make the Putin bs look like it deserves a Pulitzer!
Santorium rehetroic about contraceptives and how he was going to make that part of his political campaign unlike any pther "President".
Putin = Republican
Have contraceptives been outlawed? One would think given the Obama rhetoric.
They are available free of charge from many sources, including Planned Parenthood.
Or here is a novel idea.....
Why not take some freaking PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and supply your own freaking contraceptives?!?!?
What is it with Liberals anyway? Why do they always believe that people are incapable for doing for themselves and must have everything done for them?
Thanks to their generous programs, I know of a family that has lived in government housing for 3 generations now. Every member of that family gets food stamps, a welfare check, a free cellphone, (one son has 2 because he falsified another application) and they even get free clothing from a private source. Not one member of this family has held a job since 1970 or so, yet they live very well. They eat steak, lobster and all the fixings at least twice a week.
All on our dime.
Actually I think he has taken a page out of the Kennedy playbook.
Really? "all on our dime" I'm willing to bet it's not your dime because you don't have any money and you've been convinced, easily I might add, to vote against you're own best interest.
@bored-3562783
You assume much don't you?
You don't know me, nor I you.
I am not one of the 49.5% that pays no taxes, but I bet you are.
Really.... I could not agree with you more. The Tea Party and the true conservatives believe in "personal responsibility" and not an ever expanding nanny-state. Yes, giving out "freebies" have to be paid by someone. The lefties want to expropriate the "wealth" of those who actually create jobs and give it to their voters. (This is called "buying" votes!) I always have heard the lefties who say that you cannot balance the budget on the backs of the "poor"! These poor in our country live like kings in comparison with the poor in most other countries of this world. I, and all conservatives, have no problem with our tax dollars going to those in true need, and investing in needed infrastructure, but, we are tired of our hard earned money going into the pockets of non-producing liberal "voters"!
Really? and Dan M,
I question whether you know what hard work actually is. I do know you don't know what the working poor does to make their living, and you want to place even more of a burden, that they already have, on their shoulders.
What many of those folks ask for is contraceptives for your children, so that will not bring some more bigoted and priviledged babies into this world, for them to carry.
the hooror of it all, right? I am 45 years old, and i feel like tomorow i turn 100. I am now being forced to pay for insurance, with a deductable i might as well hand them a limb as payment if something does happen that is serious. ALL because one tool figured he pull a fast one. Tell everyone this is the greatest thing EVER to hit this planet for the US. As soon as it was pretty clear he was getting elected it went up, and never stopped. Out of my check i pay hourly to the union. Also, and not complaining on this, i pay my child support/back support every week. My hourly rate is modest for the area's cost of living. its supposed to be just shy of $20 hr. but after taxes, insurance, so called pension we will never see, and so on, it comes out to... rdy for this? $9.30 hr. cool huh? beats makeing nuthing in a trade for 25yrs and having something to show for it. not to mention we are already taxed just as soon as we step out the door. the only thing left to tax is the methane you pass contributing to global warming. but as soon as they come up with a feasable plan for a group of idiots to think its a great idea, like the rest of the burden of the US it will happen.
WE the people yes should support our people when they need it to get a foothold, nothing more. It has been hand outs and entitlements, more every year. Get a job, if you cant get a job do like i did when i didnt have one. yes put your skills to use even if it gets you a meal for the day. verses sitting on your collective welfare a$$ crying because you dont have enough to buy both crack, and food, so you need more. The list of entitlement worthy people is wayyy too gracious for those who never lifted a finger to contribute to their own waste of space. It my understanding we need work credits to qualify for X=amount of soc sec, or just to qualify, well thats all good. ehy are there people collecting because they are too fat and lazy to contribute to their share when they are perfectly able to? they were born that way? ummmm ya, and being most parents no adays usually will have a heads up if there is going to be birth defects and so on. who pays? you have 4 kids, all with disabilities, you should have quit after 1 or 2 when the doc said the odds are slim to none, you would have a "normal" kid.
you know, you can say free this free that this is America, the line will have to be drawn at some point. It should be with one law, "stupid people shouldnt breed", but by law we have to let them breed, because it can be done freely. meantime the government profits, and the taxpayer loses. put that against any entitlemt given to a non contributing "person" in the US, it holds the same formula.
For Republicans whining about having to pay for free contraceptives, how about paying for housing and food for an unwanted kid? Which is cheaper in your view?
And as far as someone wanting an oppressive Leader killed, I'd like him dead as much as the Russians, he's a whacked out nutcase, just like 3/4 of our "Representatives in Government."
Putin is smarter then Bush or Obama. Look who is wasting resources and troops in Afghanistan.
Do you remember who was mired in Afghanistan before we arrived? Do you remember who armed and trained the Afghans to fight?
trust2112 - You might find a very small percentage of Republicans who worry about the money aspect of contraception, but the number would be small.
Mainstream Republicans would never argue about the cost of unwanted kids & how killing them would be cheaper than allowing them to live. Your point is quite silly. Who would even have such an argument, Hitler? Isn't that what he did to those who were drains on society (the elderly, the sickly, the mentally inferior)???
You can't force me to pay for your birth control, or your medical pot, your cigarettes, or your bottle of vodka. You can't make me pay for things that I believe are stupid and wrong!
"Mainstream Republicans would never argue about the cost of unwanted kids & how killing them would be cheaper than allowing them to live."
When did this discussion go from contraceptives to abortion? Or do you not understand the difference? Besides, both are a little bit off the subject of a Putin assassination plot, aren't they?
Putin must be doing something right when everybody expects him to easily win again and many Americans seem obsessed with him.
Awww is Putin having trouble with Islamic states wanting to be created in his territory? He realizes that based on religion those same people are the ones hes so desperate to support and not allow help in Syria and sells Iran and the bad guys weapons. Awwww poor guy. Looks like they will never care if you help others of that good old religion
what?
seriously, WTF are you trying to say?
Crap. Monkeys have figured out how to type but not quite capable of forming full and complete sentences.
Chechen? Could be paid off by the CIA or mossad to do their dirty work of eliminating Russia's nixing the Israeli and USA's meddling in Syria and now Iran . If you don't recall ,Israeli's did try sinking our USS Liberty to bring us into war with Egypt during LBJ's term. Many more false flag ops on the horizon.
Why the hell would Putin support an Islamic state, when they tried to just assasinate him, for years have tried to take away territory from Russia, and have declared war on his country as well as the whole western world? To be honest I don't think it's a good idea to be supporting anyone in the middle east, and completely stay out of all conflicts there because there will always be some group against you if you act, and it usually results in terror plots.
They'll also be against you if do nothing. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. But I agree maybe would be cheaper at least.
Not sure what msnbc has to do with this clebro? I would add that hopefully the citizens of Russia find a peaceful solution to getting Putin out of office. It sure doesn't look like the elections will represent the people's choice in the matter.
All the opinion polls predict Putin will win 50-60 of the vote,out of 5 parties running.I would say that's pretty much the will of the people.
Uncle Bob
The opinion polls could've said that he'd win 0 percent of the vote, and he'd still win. Catch my drift? *wink wink*
Democracy will truly work if all the presidents on this planet served only one term (4 years).
If we only had one term for all executive and legislative branches then this world would have been a different world. It would be a lot better because the new blood and fresh ideas and fast turn around will bring all the people closer.
To mike s,
Yes I catch your meaning.You don't like Putin,and facts mean nothing against that dislike.
Mike S. under Putins Presidency Russia's economy grew for nine straight years, GDP grew by 72%, poverty decreased by 50%, and average salaries increased from $80 to$640 so maybe you should rethink your comment.
so true... agree with you. Putin is the best presidet. he's got the firm hand against magia/business croocks
Well, wlee-The stats you quoted above are right out of Wikipedia and the information disputed as biased.
Putin served his two terms under the constitution, then ran as Prime minister with a puppet president and now running again? Glad to see some support a man who does not abide by his own constitution. There aren't any viable parties from my understanding so it is more a matter of win by default.
actually the economy under Putin has gotten significantly worse - way more dependent commodities and a lot less attractive to foreign investments. The economic growth is due to Russia paying off all of its debt. Ask any economist and theyll tell you the situation in Russia is worse overall than considering all factors.
Oh and no worries - most Russians are not buying this story but that wont make any difference in the upcoming poll one way or another.
Really?-2872425 so, he does not abide by his country's own constitution, but he didn't stay a third consecutive term, as their constitution prohibits, it seems to me he followed their constitution.
Al718 althought your comments are mostly BS, just the fact that you mentioned that Russia paid off all its debt, while we owe so much to the Chinese, tells me Putin is quite smart compared with what we have, I'll vote for him too.
I am sure this was not pre-planned by Putin's apparatus and it is a pure coincidence that it happens just before the upcoming elections. And I am sure that there were no calculations that it would bring some level of sympathy from some voters.
The point being what, exactly? There is no chance he's going to lose the election. You are not only completely without evidence, but any realistic motive as well. But yeah, going yap yap yap on the Internet about things you know absolutely nothing about feels good.
I don't know a single Russian who approves of Vladmir Putin. Then again, I've never been to Russia.
Putin was fighting Islamic terrorists in Russia,since before 9/11.So it doesn't surprise me that they would try to kill him.I figure there have been other plots in the past.
And yet - amazingly enough - they (Putin and Russia) stand behind Iran and the pro-government forces in Syria.
For a man who spent time fighting Islamic terrorists in Russia, he sure is pretty damn eager to climb into bed with them now.
Shame, Putin - shame.
Tired it's all about the Benjamins.
The answer is simple,Tired.Syria is a secular society,Not an Islamic religious state.And they realize that Iran is a very important historical nation.They are not interested in warmongering.
Why would anyone want to kill Putin? Now, I could understand if He committed suicide. That could happen at any time, but someone out to kill him?, nahh.
Ive been to Russia numerous of times and have several close friends over there, all which support Putin. Awhile back I asked one why vote for Putin and he said because thats what we do, everyone votes for him.. Im not saying he wouldnt commit voter fraud but why? He doesnt have to because hes extremely popular with the Russian people..
@twisted, just as your name implies, you certainly are twisted. The so called rebels fighting the Syrian government are most likely fanatical islamists, just like in Libya and Egypt. Where did you go to school, did you go to school lol !
The neat thing about the Middle East is - they're all Islamic terrorists. The question is - whether they're Islamic terrorists you get along with... tolerate... or oppose.
Some Islamic terrorists are in charge of governments. Other's are seeking to be in charge of governments.
For a religion that is so dedicated to peace, they sure have a lot of folks who are hell-bent on destroying it (peace). Maybe Islam just has more wackadoos than most other religions - maybe the wackadoos of most other religions just have better publicists... but it sure seems like, when we hear the word terrorist - it's applied to one "radical" Islamic group or another.
Mike the leader of the rebels said he wants to cut ties with Iran
Mike where did you go to school? Fox News school for sheep? How do you figure the Arab Spring was supported by all Islamist? The uprising in Egypt was started and finished by young Egyptians that use facebook, twitter, have Iphones, and love American culture. I guess it's just easier to label everyone you don't understand or agree with an Islamist. @ Tiredofstupidy....you must not be too tired of stupid cause your comment clearly shows your own ignorance and lack of understanding, which some would call just plain stupid
Best of luck, to the hunters of "Vald". May your aim be straight and true, next time.
Hey Boss, 2 out f 3 ain't bad. (That we know of anyway)
Better leave now then be forced to. If Putin is smart enough would get lost withhis friend Berlusconi and have a nice bunga bunga.
And later today he will announce that the CIA was behind it.
Had it been successful, Obama would have took the credit.
Since it was not successful, George Bush get blames now!
Chechen separatists................keep up the good work.........you will prevail.
Islamists want to kill him...that's ironic and pretty humorous. My bet is that they will not be the only ones coming for him. This is just the beginning and the tip of the iceberg so to speak.
Obviously,most people on this board know nothing about Russia.In spite of what our media tells you,Putin is popular among the average people in Russia.The elites and western sellouts are where he has his opposition.And the Russians were fighting Islamic terrorists long before we were.
Uncle Bob, I know quite a few russian people, and the average russian is like the average democrat in this country, believe what you are told.
Uncle Bob, you are an idiot! I am married to a Russian woman and she, and her entire family, are terrified about what Putin is doing to her country! The joys of the destruction of the Soviet Union are being replaced with the terrors of citizens being taken in the night and dissapearing. You have never lived (yet) in a country where individual rights are completely being subverted by a ruling elite. With Obama and the lefties in charge, I am sure you may soon be a little more aware!
Well Dan,how did your wife feel after the "joy" was over,and people where jobless,homeless,crime/murders by the Russian Mafia everyday in Russia.I guess she was one of the several million Russians that fled the chaos.And now feels like telling the people that stayed how to run their country. BTW with all the anti-Putin stories running around,tell her to go to the press about those "disappeared" ,I'm sure they will print them.You know there is a common thread that runs through a lot of these posts I see.My Russian wife,my Russian friends,say this or that.But yet,they aren't in Russia saying them.An unkind person might think,that people that desert their country,and westernize themselves in another land,really don't represent the Russian people.
I am certain Putin will take this to heart - it was Islamists behind the assassination plot and, yes, this is the tip of the iceberg. I sincerely hope our country is taking note of this.
Go Putin I wish you a long life.Wish you could run for president over here.
Hell, if Pailn was pres, They could go bear hunting in the Klondike and Siberia. Cool.
BAMA------YOU are a dope ! GO the hell over to RUSSIA, if you LOVE PUTIN, so DAMNED MUCH, crap for brains !!!!!!
This story, according to PRO-GOVERNMENT TV. And reported here by PRO-GOVERNMENT MEDIA.
Ironic.
Your tin hat is loose; did you even read the article? This happened in the Ukraine, which is NOT a close ally of Russia, but they do trade with each other. All of the Ukraine gets their electricity from Russia and have had it shut off many times in the past, about 10 yrs ago Russia invaded a Ukraine state trying to weed out insurgents.
Sometimes what comes out in the news, is actually what happened;I know you cannot believe that; what really gets me is that you act like you know whats actually going in but you are less educated about the problem than most, that is apparent! Just because you have an inherent need to believe every conspiracy (or make one up) doesn't mean a news story doesn't have to be false. I think you believe every sickening lie just to justify your hatred for government, guess what? Governments will never go away; you better keep your tinfoil hat on.
Too bad the plot to kill Alexander Litvinenko wasn't foiled in time...
Putin was, and will be a great president for Russia. As far as politicians go he is as straight as they come. I wish he were president of th US, he could turn this country around and head in the right direction. Put both Bush, and Obama in the ring (2 on 1) with Putin, and I guarantee he will wipe the floor with both of them.
What part of former head of the KGB do you not get? Putin has not changed, he is still a authoritarian dictator. He has won sham elections before and will do the same this time. I suspect this plot is as real as his dive to bring up ancient pottery and darting the tiger.
"What part of former head of the KGB do you not get?"
First of all Putin wasn't the head of the KGB.But on another note,Bush 1,was the head of the CIA before becoming President over here.
The Russians are the right people for the job when it comes to fighting these extreme Muslims. They will use any means necessary and not give a darn about world opinion. Unlike we Americans who have to fight with one hand tied behind our back and apologize for things we didn't even do!
pffft.. the russians wont do anything, there the ones supplying all the muslims with guns
They will do something to the ones that mess with them.
thatguy, look again, we supply most the weapons to the Muslims. Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen Iran, Libya should I go on
What a convenient excuse for a future Putin crackdown on individual rights. Remember who this guy is. Russia has a long history of government without much consideration for the people!
PS It's nice to see the right wing hacks are alive and well.
Tom, no left wing hacks huh Tom!
Of course. When your a two bit dictator, you need all kinds of plots TO PROVE elections have to be cancelled, internal security needs to be enhanced, plotters and enemies arrested,,,you know,,, the same kind of stuff they pull here once in a while (blacks protesting segregation were called "communists" by the southern churches, japanese citizens were rounded up and placed in internment camps in WW II, and of course, the most recent George Bush - Dick Cheney "trust us and we'll protect you spy on americans act...." So, nothing new...a power hungry, self enrinching, leader who needs everything and anything to stay in power....the old communists would be ashamed of him though....he is such a softy...
Black Panthers at voting booths, Millions of Illegals given Drivers licenses to insure their vote, Legislation saying you do not even need ID to vote it hurts Minorities, Acorn reviving the dead, The Socialist Progressives here have learned a few of those same tricks?
You forgot to mention, no voter Id's required in GOP caucuses, missing votes in many counties in every Caucus states and a winner being declared in error. Republicans caught on camera voting for an absent member in the state of Wisconsin. Trumped up accuations about ACORN by a Republican who was then caught committing voter fraud in his attempt to prove voter fraud where none existed.
Shouldn't the Black Panthers be considered a terrorist hate group like the KKK?
Bill, and carried on by Obama, why do you people refuse to accept that both parties are guilty of the same offenses. Chalk trumped up charges of Acorn, good God people like you really exist
Bill, when you talk about a two bit dictator are you talking about Obama.
Putins a badass, he's like a Russian Chuck Norris. Russians
If you believe this I have a bridge to sell you in brooklyn.
Drama,,, always the drama....
Sounds as if Putin was searching for sympathy. Obviously he doesn't know it's located in the dictionary between sh#t and syphilis. He merely needs to follow Obama's footsteps to locate it.
So "NC Vet" what grade are you in now? You did a good job alphabetizing your s's. Now you must learn to use the alphabet to write words that express some level of intellect. Do you know these words?
I was completely unaware there are so many Russians living in America and commenting on the internet about life back home. Welcome, comrades!
I am not sure all of these comments are from citizens of the Great USA but some of you need to move to RUSSIA!
spike, which people the ones whose opinion you would like to silence, comrade