Washington, D.C. – The FBI announced Tuesday that it had foiled a Russian‑directed plot to murder a well‑known Russian dissident believed to be residing in the capital. The operation, which began in 2024, involved a network of Russian intelligence officers who sought to recruit individuals in the United States and abroad to conduct surveillance and ultimately carry out the killing.
Charges and alleged conspirators
Five people, three of whom are identified as high‑ranking members of Russia’s intelligence services, were charged in a Manhattan federal indictment. The suspects include Yuri Khrameev, a former colonel in the Russian intelligence apparatus; his son, Kirill Khrameev, an officer in the Federal Security Service (FSB); and Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, a Cuban national active in the Russian‑based Cuban diaspora. Two additional Russian‑based suspects, Yaidel Delgado Suarez and Angel Eduardo Castro, were also named.
According to the indictment, the network recruited a Venezuelan citizen living in Brooklyn to conduct surveillance of the target. The Brooklyn resident was instructed to photograph and video locations associated with the dissident and was offered $1,000 for the surveillance work and a further $1,500 for additional tasks.
FBI’s rapid response
James C. Barnacle Jr., head of the FBI’s New York field office, praised “relentless work” by agents and partner agencies that led to the disruption. Darren B. Cox, head of the FBI’s Washington, D.C., office, added that “extraordinary work by multiple FBI field offices, components, and partner agencies” allowed the bureau to move quickly and prevent the plot from advancing.
The indictment states that after completing the surveillance, the Brooklyn resident refused a $40,000 offer to “eliminate” or “disappear” the target. When the offer was declined, the Russian operatives allegedly sought additional U.S. individuals to carry out the murder, offering “substantial amounts of money.”
Broader threat to U.S. security
U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said the Russian‑led network has conspired to cause “destruction and mayhem around the world, including right here in the United States.” The indictment also alleges that the network has pursued attacks on civilian and military infrastructure in European nations perceived as allies of Ukraine.
Federal officials emphasized that the plot underscores a continuing foreign‑directed threat to American safety. The FBI’s successful intervention demonstrates the agency’s commitment to protecting residents on U.S. soil from foreign‑sponsored violence.
What this means for the community
While the target of the plot was a high‑profile dissident, the case serves as a reminder that foreign intelligence services may attempt to exploit local residents for violent ends. Law‑enforcement agencies across the country are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious outreach that involves large sums of money or offers to commit violent acts.
Residents of Washington, D.C., and the broader United States can take confidence from the FBI’s swift action, which prevented a potential tragedy and sent a clear message that foreign plots will be met with decisive law‑enforcement response.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
