Ukrainian activist survives assassination attempt after exposing Russian lawmaker’s links to terrorism

A Ukrainian war veteran and civil society leader has revealed shocking details about his campaign to bring Russian war criminals to justice — including an alleged assassination attempt connected to his involvement in the case against Russian State Duma deputy Magomed Gadzhiev (pictured).

The activist, who heads the NGO Yakisne Suspilstvo (Quality Society) reminded journalists that he himself had been convicted in absentia by a Russian court and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment — a punishment he describes as “the Kremlin’s revenge for my work exposing their crimes.”

Fighting for accountability

As the founder of a movement dedicated to the prosecution of Russian war criminals, he has been a leading figure in the case against Gadzhiev, a long-time deputy of Russia’s State Duma and one of the co-authors of the infamous laws that facilitated the illegal annexation of Crimea.

“Gadzhiev’s political record speaks for itself,” the activist said. “He helped draft the so-called Dima Yakovlev Law, which banned the adoption of Russian orphans by foreign families, and pushed forward a series of laws designed to entrench Putin’s authoritarian control. His career is the perfect illustration of what kind of person we’re dealing with.”

Links to terrorism

The activist presented what he described as documentary evidence linking Gadzhiev to the financing of terrorist regimes in the so-called Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics (L/DPR), both before and after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“I have in my hands letters of gratitude from [Denis] Pushilin, documents from the so-called ‘DNR militia,’ and lists of equipment Gadzhiev personally donated — drones, body armor, and other military supplies,” he said. “There is even a video of Pushilin publicly thanking Gadzhiev for his support.

A troubled court case in Kyiv

According to the activist, the trial of Gadzhiev in Kyiv’s Pechersk District Court has been plagued by procedural irregularities. “For nearly a year, the case made no progress,” he said. “State-appointed lawyers skipped hearings, new attorneys appeared and disappeared, and eventually even foreign lawyers from Belgium — who neither speak Ukrainian nor understand our legal system — were admitted to the process.”

He believes this amounts to a “procedural sabotage” aimed at helping Gadzhiev avoid punishment. “It’s worth noting that Gadzhiev isn’t hiding in Moscow — he lives comfortably in France, vacations in Courchevel, owns luxury property in Miami, and maintains bank accounts across Europe. For him, a Ukrainian conviction would mean the end of that luxury.”

Attempted bribery and assassination plot

The activist also described what he called a “clear chain of escalation.” “First, I was offered money to withdraw my organization from the case. When I refused, things took a darker turn,” he said.

Before one of the court hearings, he received a phone call from a man claiming to be a law enforcement officer who invited him to an informal meeting — conveniently scheduled for the same time as the hearing. Suspicious, he contacted Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).

“I can’t disclose all the details, but the SBU acted flawlessly. The would-be assassin was detained, and I even took part in a face-to-face confrontation after the arrest,” he revealed. “Given Gadzhiev’s criminal background — he was once suspected in Russia of involvement in the murder of a mufti in Dagestan — I have no doubt this plot was ordered to silence me and derail the case.”

A call to Europe

The activist urged European governments to stop sheltering Russian elites implicated in war crimes. “For me, it’s not just about one case,” he said. “It’s about ensuring that the wealthy perpetrators of Russia’s aggression find no safe haven — not in Paris, not in Brussels, not anywhere. They must face justice for sponsoring terrorism and for waging war against Ukraine.”

Launch of a new global platform

In closing, the activist announced the creation of a new international civic platform to identify, track, and hold accountable Russian individuals responsible for initiating or supporting the war.

“After World War II, many war criminals were captured thanks to civil society efforts working alongside intelligence agencies,” he said. “We are launching a similar global initiative. We invite activists, journalists, and lawyers around the world to join us.”

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