4:06 p.m. April 26, 2022
Russia has accused Ukraine of wanting to kill Russian star presenter Vladimir Soloviev, who is very close to the Kremlin. But the evidence presented by the Russian authorities has drawn ridicule and caution from some experts.
A conspiracy allegedly revealed thanks to exhibits on Russian television. The secret services (FSB) claimed on Monday that they had arrested “members of a neo-Nazi group” who, according to their own statements, had planned an assassination attempt on star presenter Vladimir Soloviev, the Kremlin’s chief propagandist, on the orders of Ukraine. “Russia’s investigative committee has arrested members of the Nazi/White Power group, Russian citizens, who plotted the assassination of star politician and journalist Vladimir Soloviev,” the FSB said, quoted by the Russian press.
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The FSB claimed that this “assassination” plot was ordered by the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). In support of this allegation, the FSB showed three covers of the video game The Sims on Russian television. According to recognized specialists such as the founder of the investigation site Bellingcat, Eliot Higgins, it could be a mistake by an FSB officer who mixed up sims and phone SIM cards.
I genuinely believe this is some stupid FSB officer being told to get 3 SIMs.
— Eliot Higgins (@EliotHiggins) April 25, 2022
A home-made explosive device and various weapons, as well as forged Ukrainian passports in the names of the arrested suspects, were seized during searches. A Nazi flag and the book Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler were also found.
One of the Kremlin’s main relays in the media
58-year-old Vladimir Soloviev is one of the Kremlin’s most important mediators. Close to Vladimir Putin, whom he has interviewed on numerous occasions, he vigorously defends the Russian military offensive against Ukraine. The moderator is one of many figures sanctioned by Western countries after the intervention in Ukraine began. His properties in Italy – three properties on the very wealthy shores of Lake Como worth €8m – were frozen in early March and he has been banned from entering several countries.
During the course of the day, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin also addressed this project of “attacking a star journalist” and denounced an “act of terrorism”: “We know the heads of the Western secret services, above all the CIA, specifically cooperation with Ukrainian security services,” said Vladimir Putin at a meeting with prosecutors.