Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
It’s not the first time, the dissident has been a target of assassination attempts.
French intelligence agents have foiled an alleged plot to assassinate a Russian dissident living in the coastal city of Biarritz.
Four men, aged between 26 and 38, were detained earlier this week by officers of the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI). According to the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office, the arrests took place on Monday as part of an ongoing counterterrorism investigation.
The suspects are accused of planning an attack against a Russian opponent of President Vladimir Putin.
Officials confirmed that the operation was part of a broader effort to prevent politically motivated violence on French soil. The Prosecutor’s Office noted that the arrests followed weeks of surveillance and intelligence work that culminated in pre-dawn raids in several locations.
Vladimir Osechkin suspected target
While French authorities declined to name the intended victim, French media outlets Le Figaro and Le Parisien reported that the plot targeted Vladimir Osechkin, a well-known Russian human rights activist.
Osetchikin, who has lived in France since 2015, is the founder of Gulagu.net—an NGO that exposes torture, corruption, and abuse in Russian prisons.
Investigators reportedly discovered evidence suggesting that reconnaissance missions had been conducted around Osetchikin’s home in Biarritz. The alleged plan was described as a sophisticated attempt to eliminate a prominent Kremlin critic.
Over the years, Osetchikin has played a key role in helping Russian defectors and whistleblowers flee the country. Among those he has assisted are former intelligence officers and military officials. His activism has made him one of the most visible figures in Russia’s human rights movement—and, consequently, a potential target for retribution.
The red dot
This is not the first time Osetchikin’s life has been in danger. In September 2022, a sniper allegedly opened fire on his apartment while he and his family were preparing dinner.
The dissident escaped unharmed after noticing a laser dot on a wall—a warning that prompted him to take cover just moments before shots were fired.
The incident two years ago heightened security around Osetchikin and drew international attention to the risks faced by Russian dissidents abroad. It also raised concerns about the reach of Russian intelligence operations within Europe, particularly against critics of the Kremlin.
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, which may have used AI in the preparation
