Russia foils assassination attempts on prominent media figures, ensuring their safety

Russia claims to have stopped attempts to assassinate two prominent media figures, according to state-owned news agency TASS. A Moscow court has issued criminal charges against seven individuals accused of planning to kill Margarita Simonyan, the chief editor of state media outlet RT, and Ksenia Sobchak, a well-known journalist and TV host. The court has ordered the detention of five minors, born in 2005 and 2006, as well as two men who were allegedly part of an organized group. Reportedly, the neo-Nazi group Paragraph-88 carried out reconnaissance near the journalists’ homes and workplaces. The suspects have admitted to preparing attacks on behalf of Ukraine, with a reward of 1.5 million roubles ($16,620) promised to each attacker. Both Simonyan and Sobchak hold positions that have made them targets due to their controversial opinions and criticism of the Kremlin. Simonyan has openly supported Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Sobchak ran against President Vladimir Putin in the 2018 election. Despite the threat, both journalists remain vocal in their work.