Russia Accuses Khodorkovsky, Other Oppositionists Of 'Terror Plot'

"Exiled Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky and several other prominent Russian opposition figures have been accusedby the country's Federal Security Service (FSB) of creating a "terrorist organization" and of plotting to violently seize power. The FSB said on October 14 that it was investigating more than 20 others as part of the case, including dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, former world chess champion Garry Kasparov, ex-Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and leading economists Sergei Aleksashenko and Sergei Guriev."

"All are part of the "Anti-War Committee of Russia," which has been deemed "undesirable" in the country. The organization was founded on February 27, 2022, after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The group's manifesto states that its goals are to stop the war and oppose Vladimir Putin's regime, which the organization views as dictatorial. Many members of the movement left Russia after the war began."

"The Russian authorities' move also comes after a recent decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to establish a "Platform for Dialogue with Russian Democratic Forces that gives opponents of President Vladimir Putin a stronger voice at Europe's main human rights body. "The Kremlin perceives the PACE affair as a major problem," Khodorkovsky, who lives in exile in London, said in a social media post."

Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has accused exiled critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky and several prominent opposition figures of creating a 'terrorist organization' and plotting to seize power violently. The probe reportedly involves more than 20 individuals, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, Garry Kasparov, Mikhail Kasyanov, Sergei Aleksashenko and Sergei Guriev. All named individuals belong to the Anti-War Committee of Russia, declared 'undesirable' and founded on February 27, 2022, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The committee's manifesto calls for stopping the war and opposing Vladimir Putin's regime. The move follows the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's decision to create a Platform for Dialogue with Russian democratic forces, prompting debate over inclusion of Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation.

Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty