The accused of preparing the assassination attempt on Solovyov cited his support for the SVO as the motive

A native of Estonia, Maxim Druzhinin, who is accused in a criminal case of an attempt on the life of TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, said that the reason for committing the crime was the journalist’s active support for the military operation in Ukraine. Maxim Druzhinin, during a meeting of the 2nd Western District Military Court, where his case is being considered, also stated that the assassination attempt was planned by the Ukrainian special services.

“I know that the guys – Pronsky, Belyakov, Stepanov and Mokiy – planned to kill Solovyov in connection with his professional activities, in connection with his active support for the beginning of the SVO,” noted Maxim Druzhinin in his testimony (quoted from RIA Novosti). He also said that he and his accomplices were promised a reward of 1 million rubles for committing an assassination attempt on Vladimir Solovyov.

Currently, six accused are under arrest in Moscow: Andrei Pronsky, Vladimir Belyakov, Vladimir Stepanov, Vasily Strizhakov, Alexander Druzhinin and Timofey Mokiy. According to the FSB, which reported their arrest on April 25, the assassination attempt was prepared on instructions from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU called this information fiction.

According to the investigation, the accused – members of the terrorist group National Socialism / White Power, banned in the Russian Federation – planned to blow up Vladimir Solovyov’s car and then flee to Ukraine. They were charged under Part 1 of Art. 30 and part 2 art. 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (preparation of murder by a generally dangerous method). Some of the accused, including Maxim Druzhinin, agreed to cooperate with the investigation.

The head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, claimed that those involved in preparing the assassination attempt on the TV presenter were involved “in committing four terrorist attacks.” He claims that the accused set fire to military commissariats and “destroyed four cars” and a house. The terrorist attacks, according to the head of the Investigative Committee, were committed in the Moscow region, Ryazan, Tula and Tver regions.

Read more about the case of the assassination attempt on Vladimir Solovyov in the Kommersant publication “Signature Illegible decided to speak.”

Alexander Kislov