On Sept. 16, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that five individuals believed to be agents of Russian intelligence were charged with conspiracy to finance terrorism and murder‑for‑hire after prosecutors said they plotted to kill a Russian dissident on American soil.
The indictment matters to people of faith because it underscores a deliberate attempt by a foreign power to silence a voice critical of oppression, a threat to the freedom of expression and religious liberty that America cherishes. Protecting believers and activists from transnational repression aligns with biblical calls to defend the vulnerable and uphold justice.
The defendants are Yuri Khrameev, 63, a former colonel in Russian intelligence, his son Kirill Khrameev, 27, an officer in the Federal Security Service, Cuban nationals Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, 35, and Yaidel Delgado Suarez, 35, as well as Angel Eduardo Castro, 22, a Venezuelan. All remain at large. Each faces a charge of conspiracy to finance terrorism, and three of them—Yuri Khrameev, Suarez and Castro—also confront a conspiracy to commit murder‑for‑hire, offenses punishable by up to ten years in prison.
According to the indictment, the network recruited a U.S.-based individual to conduct surveillance on the target, offering between $1,000 and $1,500 for photographs and video of two locations linked to the dissident. The recruit provided the requested images, confirming that the operatives had detailed knowledge of the victim’s movements.
After the surveillance, prosecutors say Suarez and Castro offered the same individual $40,000 to “eliminate” or “disappear” the target. The recruit refused to carry out the killing and instead reported the solicitation to authorities. The offer, described in the indictment as a “construction” job, highlights the literal price placed on silencing dissent.
In a separate scheme, investigators allege that Yuri Khrameev offered approximately $25,000 to a U.S. citizen to kill a Russian critic residing in Lithuania after that person had been recruited to photograph the victim’s home. That individual also declined the murder request.
The indictment details a broader pattern of coordinated attacks against civilian and military infrastructure in European countries that support Ukraine, including operations in the Czech Republic and Lithuania. Federal agents credit the FBI’s relentless investigative work for uncovering the plot and preventing a potential tragedy on U.S. soil.
Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters, “It is our job to stop America’s adversaries from unleashing violence and terror on American soil, and that’s precisely what we are doing thanks to the work of the FBI and our Justice Department prosecutors.” The five defendants now face a federal trial, and law‑enforcement officials say they will continue to pursue them internationally to ensure accountability.