A critic of Vladimir Putin was discovered dead under suspicious circumstances while residing in exile in Turkey.
Abakar Abakarov, aged 49, was wanted by Russian authorities for allegedly provoking anti-government unrest in Dagestan, a volatile region in Russia. The Russian leader had previously accused Ukraine and Western intelligence agencies of inciting disturbances within the country in 2023. Officials in Russia linked Abakarov, who operated a dissenting Telegram channel named Morning Dagestan, to these events. Fleeing to Turkey, he reportedly lived incognito to evade potential Russian assassins.
The body of the Putin critic was discovered in a rented villa in Istanbul by a cleaner. A Russian media outlet, reportedly connected to the country’s security services, stated that the cause of death was multiple stab wounds.
Abakarov had been missing for over a week before his body was found. Turkish authorities initiated an investigation into the incident but have not provided any public statements regarding the case.
In October 2023, violent protests erupted at Makhachkala airport in Dagestan, where an anti-Semitic mob threatened Jewish individuals arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv. The clashes resulted in more than 20 injuries, including nine police officers. The Russian FSB sought Abakarov’s arrest in connection with the unrest and his anti-Putin activism.
During the turmoil, Putin denounced the events in Makhachkala, attributing them to external influences, including Ukraine and Western intelligence agencies. Abakarov was known to have ties to former Russian MP Ilya Ponomarev, now a Ukrainian citizen, who was also implicated by Moscow for his involvement in the disturbances.
This incident coincides with the recent apprehension of a group suspected of plotting to assassinate Vladimir Osechkin, a human rights advocate critical of Putin. The suspects, aged between 26 and 38, were detained near Biarritz, where Osechkin resides. They hailed from the same Dagestani region as Abakarov.
Osechkin drew Moscow’s ire after exposing instances of abuse and violence in Russian prisons, particularly directed towards opponents of the regime, including the late Alexei Navalny. Expressing gratitude, Osechkin commended the French authorities for thwarting the alleged assassination plot, emphasizing the importance of countering Putin’s malevolent schemes in Europe and France.
He added, “I want to extend my sincere thanks to the French police for apprehending these criminals, preventing potential harm, and ensuring my safety. Their professionalism has been instrumental in thwarting the malicious intentions of Putin’s operatives.”