Putin ‘assassination plot’ foiled

The Channel One report said that Ukranian security services had detained two people in the Black Sea port of Odessa after an explosion at a rented apartment last month during which one person was killed.

Plotters had been working for a group that wants to create an Islamic state in Russia’s North Caucasus, according to the report, and had planned to travel to Moscow to assassinate the Prime Minister.

The channel said Ukranian special services had alerted the Russian FSB security agency and the man had been detained earlier this year.

Both of the arrested men were shown on TV admitting their alleged involvement in the plot. One was shown being interrogated, and the other giving an interview.

Russian news agency, Ria Novosti, said Ukranian security services confirmed they had scuppered the alleged plot. They identified one of the men as Ilya Pyanzin, who said he had been hired by Chechen militant leader, Doku Umarov, to carry out the killing, according to the footage. He also said he had been hired by Ruslan Madayev, the suspect who died in the Odessa explosion.

The other suspect was named by Channel One as Adam Osmayev, who is said to have been on an international wanted list since 2007.

The disclosures will fuel further tension as Russia gears up for the elections next month. Mr Putin is expected to win, giving him a third term as president, amid frequent demonstrations calling for change.

Yesterday, thousands of protesters turned up in Moscow wearing white ribbons and scarves and carrying white balloons and flowers which are symbols of the protest movement calling for Mr Putin’s removal.