Russian Defector Found Dead in Spain Amid Reports of Moscow's Assassins

Maksim Kuzminov, a 33-year-old Russian military defector who fled to Ukraine last year, was found dead in La Cala, Spain, after being shot and run over by a car. Kuzminov's death is the latest in a series of killings and harassment incidents targeting Russians abroad, which are blamed on Moscow's intelligence operatives.

Why this matters: The killing of Maksim Kuzminov highlights the extent to which Russia is willing to pursue and eliminate perceived enemies abroad, raising concerns about the safety of defectors and dissidents worldwide. This trend has significant implications for global security and the rule of law, as it undermines the principles of asylum and protection for those fleeing persecution.

Since President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, there have been numerous reports of attacks and harassment against Russians, prominent or not, across Europe and elsewhere. These incidents include a journalist falling ill from a suspected poisoning in Germany, an opposition figure being struck repeatedly with a hammer in Lithuania, and threats and harassment against journalists in the Czech Republic.

Despite the Kremlin's repeated denials of involvement in these attacks, experts believe that Moscow is still able to pursue those it perceives as traitors abroad. "The breadth of those individuals pursued by Russia, even if they look and sound completely insignificant, is because Russian authorities believe they might come back to the country and destroy it completely,"saidsecurity expertAndrei Soldatov.

The Soviet Union's intelligence services, including the Cheka and KGB, have a long history of pursuing and eliminating opponents and defectors abroad. This policy is still followed by Putin, a former KGB agent, who has shown contempt for perceived traitors and political enemies abroad. Notable cases include the killings of Leon Trotsky in Mexico in 1940, Stepan Bandera in Munich in 1959, and Georgi Markov in London in 1978.

More recent incidents blamed on Russian agents include the poisoning of former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko with radioactive polonium-210 in London in 2006, the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a Russian-developed nerve agent in Salisbury, England in 2018, and the shooting death of Chechen rebel Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin in 2019.

Kuzminov's defection to Ukraine in August 2023 was considered a major coup for Kyiv. He appeared at a news conference, saying he didn't understand why his "beloved homeland" was involved in war with Ukraine. Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia's foreign intelligence service, called Kuzminov a "moral corpse" after his defection. Ukrainian refugees and Russian emigrants in Spain are now calling for protection, fearing they could be targeted next by Moscow's assassins operating abroad with seeming impunity.

Key Takeaways

• Russian military defector Maksim Kuzminov found dead in Spain, shot and run over by a car.
• Kuzminov's death is part of a series of killings and harassment targeting Russians abroad, blamed on Moscow's intelligence operatives.
• Russia's pursuit of perceived enemies abroad raises concerns about global security and the rule of law.
• Experts believe Moscow is still pursuing those it perceives as traitors abroad, despite denials of involvement.
• Kuzminov's defection to Ukraine was considered a major coup, and his death has sparked fears among Ukrainian refugees and Russian emigrants in Spain.