French anti-terror prosecutors opened an investigation on October 16, 2025, into a planned attack against Russian human rights activist Vladimir Osechkin, head of the Gulagu.net project, who has lived in France for the past decade. Authorities arrested four men, aged 26 to 38, on October 13 at different locations across France, suspecting them of participating in a terrorist conspiracy aimed at committing one or more crimes. Prosecutors have requested pre-trial detention for the suspects. Preliminary reports indicate that three of the detainees are from Dagestan, and investigators found footage on their phones showing reconnaissance near Osechkin’s residence in Biarritz as early as April 2025.
Osechkin’s Work Exposing Kremlin Crimes
Vladimir Osechkin manages Gulagu.net, a platform documenting crimes of the Putin regime across multiple sectors of Russian society. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Osechkin has been involved in identifying Russian mercenaries, including Wagner Group operatives, featured in videos of war crimes in Ukraine. His investigative work has made him a target for those seeking to silence critics abroad.
Pattern of Targeting Russian Dissidents in Europe
Russia has repeatedly been accused of orchestrating attacks, poisonings, and assassinations of opposition figures beyond its borders. High-profile cases include the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in London (2006), Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury (2018), Vladimir Kara-Murza (2015 and 2017), and Alexei Navalny, who survived a poisoning in 2020 but was killed in 2024. Russian exiles in Europe frequently report harassment, surveillance, threats, and attempts at discreditation through disinformation campaigns. In 2023, a group of Russian dissidents in the EU issued a declaration condemning the war and demanding the release of political prisoners, illustrating the ongoing pressure on Kremlin critics.
Motives Behind Kremlin Intimidation Abroad
Analysts suggest Moscow targets exiled opponents to intimidate critics and demonstrate the regime’s reach. Dissidents in the West often have access to media platforms and international audiences, influencing opinion on Russia, which the Kremlin seeks to neutralize. Public criticism is treated as betrayal, and persecution serves both as punishment and a warning to others. In 2025, Russian authorities supported legislation allowing the confiscation of property belonging to exiled opposition figures, adding an economic dimension to the regime’s pressure tactics.