Maryna Ostapenko, a spokesperson for the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), confirmed by telephone on Feb. 27 that Ukraine had arrested three suspects linked to a plot to kill Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
The suspects were detained in Odesa, the Black Sea port city, and are wanted by Russian authorities in connection with an alleged plan to assassinate Putin, who is widely expected to win re-election on March 4 despite rising opposition to his 12-year reign and authoritarian rule.
“Yes, I can confirm this information,” Ostapenko said, adding that the individuals were arrested weeks ago.
Asked to identify the individuals or details about their arrest, she pointed to a Feb. 6 SBU website statement that describes the arrest of a 31-year old Russian citizen in Odesa.
According to the statement, the individual changed his appearance to evade law enforcement. But he and two accomplices, also Russian citizens, were arrested on Feb. 4 in connection with an explosion that took place in Odesa that same day. The statement goes on to say that Russia had issued an arrest warrant for the 31-year old individual on suspicion of terrorist activity.
The individuals were renting an apartment in downtown Odesa, according to the statement. They figure in a Ukrainian criminal case. There has been no mention yet if Ukraine will hand over any of the suspects to Russia.
See SBU statement here:
http://www.sbu.gov.ua/sbu/control/uk/publish/article?art_id=110302&cat_id=110310
However, in the past, such SBU claims of breaking up terrorist plots have been greeted with suspicion, if not outright denials, such as this one in Vasylkiv, in which SBU agents alleged that they broke up a ring in August of suspects that had been accused of making explosives.
https://archive.kyivpost.com/news/opinion/op_ed/detail/112476/
https://archive.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/111457/
Earlier, the SBU said it had filed charges connected with January 2011 blasts that injured no one in Donetsk Oblast’s Makiivka.
