Released killer Krasikov could have been Putin's bodyguard and involved in the Revolution of Dignity, – WSJ

Released killer Krasikov could have been Putin's bodyguard and involved in the Revolution of Dignity, – WSJ Sofia Rozhik

Krasikov could have been Putin's security guard and fought against the participants of the Revolution of Dignity/Collage by Channel 24

Western media believe that dismissed FSB officer Vadim Krasikov could have been dictator Putin's security guard in 90s. In addition, his trace was found in the murder of the former mayor of St. Petersburg Sobchak and in crimes against participants in the Revolution of Dignity in 2014.

It was precisely because of his close relationship with Krasikov that Putin could seek his release. Putin's henchman even repeatedly told his family about him, The Wall Street Journal writes, citing Western intelligence agencies.

Putin was loyal to Krasikov

Russian analysts have long suspected that Putin and Krasikov had known each other since the time when the Russian dictator was deputy to St. Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak.

“The President (Putin – Channel 24) was so loyal to the twice-married father of three that Western intelligence officials speculated that he was Putin's personal bodyguard. Close Russian analysts have suspected their ties since the time the President was deputy mayor of mob-ridden St. Petersburg, dressed in designer clothes, Krasikov earned $10,000 a month, plus bonuses for, as he told his family, business trips. His wife … complained to family members that he bought Porsches and BMWs so often that she did not have time to get used to it. to drive them,” says WSJ.

They were so close that they visited a shooting range together. Putin “shoots well,” writes WSJ.

By the way, the publication also suggests that Krasikov participated in the murders of participants in the Revolution of Dignity in 2014.

Putin has been demanding for years that Krasikov be released from prison in Berlin

In 2019, Krasikov sneaked into Berlin with a Russian passport in the name of Vadim Sokolov.

There he killed Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin, who at one time fought against Russia in the second Chechen and Georgian wars. The killer was sentenced in 2021.

“He was arrested while trying to change his wig and escape on an electric scooter, the bald shooter … barely said a word during the entire murder trial. He didn't even tell investigators his name, which remained a secret until Bulgarian investigative journalist Kristo Grozev helped uncover it,” the WSJ writes.

All these years, Putin has been demanding that Krasikov be returned to Russia. And Germany is sure that the murder was committed specifically on orders from Russian special services.

At the same time, Russia has already admitted that Krasikov was an FSB agent. According to Dmitry Peskov, he served in the Alpha unit. Several other members of the presidential security service could have worked for the Russian special services with him.

Krasikov and Putin could be involved in Sobchak's murder

According to Bild, the killer Krasikov also has other knowledge that is “dangerous for the Kremlin”.

“The Russian dictator could have feared that Krasikov would reveal important information if he remained in a German prison – out of revenge against the Russian regime, which is not doing everything to free him, or in order to make a deal with Germany. There is a suspicion that Krasikov could have played a role in Putin's rise to power,” the publication writes.

In the 1990s, Krasikov also worked for the mayor of St. Petersburg Anatoly Sobchak and “took measures against their political opponents.” But in February 2000, that is, several weeks after the beginning of Putin's presidency, Sobchak suddenly died.

The official cause of death was a heart attack. However, this remained only one of the versions, and relatives assumed that Sobchak was murdered.

Western intelligence services believe that Krasikov and Putin may be involved in this.