Russian law enforcement arrests Uzbekistani citizen over assassination of general in Moscow, alleges he was offered $100,000 by Ukrainian intelligence
Russia’s Investigative Committee has announced the arrest of a suspect in the December 17 attack that killed Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s radiation, chemical, and biological defense forces, and his aide, Ilya Polikarpov.
According to the Investigative Committee and the Federal Security Service (FSB), the suspect is a 1995-born citizen of Uzbekistan. Officials said he admitted during interrogation to being recruited by Ukrainian intelligence services and was allegedly promised $100,000 and relocation to a European country in exchange for carrying out the attack. The FSB released a video of the interrogation through state media.
While officials did not disclose the suspect’s name, the Telegram channels Shot and Baza identified him as Akhmad Kurbanov.
Earlier reports from multiple media outlets, citing unnamed sources, suggested that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack. A source told Kommersant that law enforcement tracked the suspects shortly after the crime using surveillance footage showing two suspicious vehicles. The publication reported that the organizers recruited the perpetrators via messaging apps and provided them with a contact in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU).
