French Authorities Thwart Alleged Plot Against Russian Whistleblower in Exile
PARIS (AP) — French authorities have arrested four men suspected of plotting to target Russian human rights activist Vladimir Osechkin, a well-known critic of the Kremlin who has exposed systemic abuse and torture inside Russian prisons.
The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) announced Thursday evening that the suspects were detained earlier in the week. The arrests come after intelligence officials uncovered what they believe to be part of a broader campaign by Russian operatives aimed at silencing dissidents living abroad.
France’s General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) — the country’s leading counter-espionage and counter-terrorism agency — is heading the investigation.
Officials have not yet released the suspects’ identities, nationalities, or specific motives, nor confirmed whether they are directly linked to Russian intelligence services.
Vladimir Osechkin: The Exiled Activist Exposing Russia’s Prison Torture System
Vladimir Osechkin, the 42-year-old founder of Gulagu.net, has lived under constant threat since fleeing Russia and obtaining asylum in France. His organization has gained international attention for publishing thousands of videos and testimonies exposing horrific torture, rape, and corruption within Russia’s vast prison network.
In 2021, Gulagu.net released a series of leaked videos showing prisoners being brutally assaulted and sexually abused by guards — revelations that forced Russian authorities to open investigations into their own penal system.
Osechkin now lives in Biarritz, a quiet resort town on France’s Atlantic coast. Despite the tranquil setting, he says he remains in the crosshairs of Russian agents.
“Those who were arrested are just a part of the overall picture — they are part of a big team,” Osechkin told the Associated Press on Friday.
“These attempts show that I’m still a target because of my work exposing what happens in Russian prisons.”
Repeated Death Threats and Police Protection in France
Since 2022, Osechkin has reported multiple death threats and assassination attempts, prompting French authorities to relocate him and his family to safe houses several times.
He said the most recent credible threat occurred in February 2025, and although arrests have been made, he continues to live under tight police protection.
“Every time there’s a new warning, we’re moved again,” he said. “My family and I have learned to live in constant alert.”
The activist believes the latest arrests are connected to an organized network operating in Western Europe — a network he describes as “Putin’s shadow army” targeting defectors, journalists, and whistleblowers.
France’s DGSI Probes Russian Sabotage and Hybrid Warfare
French intelligence agencies have intensified their scrutiny of Russian espionage and influence operations, which officials describe as part of a sustained campaign to destabilize France and its European allies through disinformation, cyberattacks, and sabotage.
The DGSI is investigating whether the Osechkin plot was orchestrated by Russian proxies or mercenaries acting under indirect Kremlin orders. Similar operations have been linked to the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence service, and FSB-controlled networks operating in Europe.
“Russia continues to conduct hybrid warfare tactics across the continent,” a senior French security source said. “Targeting activists like Osechkin is part of a broader strategy to silence those who expose its crimes.”
Gulagu.net’s Global Impact and Exposés on Russia’s War in Ukraine
Beyond uncovering prison abuse, Gulagu.net has played a pivotal role in documenting Russia’s wartime human rights violations. The organization was among the first to reveal that Moscow had been recruiting convicts to fight in Ukraine, often in exchange for pardons or reduced sentences.
In 2022, Osechkin helped evacuate Russian paratrooper Pavel Filatiev, who defected after serving in Ukraine. Filatiev’s explosive memoir accused the Russian military of corruption, incompetence, and abuse of its own soldiers, a narrative that sharply contradicted the Kremlin’s wartime propaganda.
Osechkin says Gulagu.net continues to receive video evidence and testimonies from within Russia, including from whistleblowers inside the prison system and families of detainees.
European Concerns Grow Over Kremlin-Linked Attacks
The case adds to a growing list of suspected Russian assassination plots uncovered across Europe in recent years — from poisonings in the U.K. to mysterious deaths of journalists and defectors in Germany and Spain.
Security analysts warn that the Kremlin’s reach is expanding, even as Western nations bolster counterintelligence efforts.
“The Osechkin case is another reminder that Russian dissidents are not safe anywhere,” said a Paris-based European security expert. “The message from Moscow is clear: no critic is beyond their grasp.”
A Symbol of Resistance
Despite the constant fear, Vladimir Osechkin remains defiant.
“They want me silent,” he said, “but I will keep fighting. The truth about Russia’s prisons must be known.”
His work, now aided by a network of exiled journalists and former Russian officials, continues to expose the dark underbelly of the Kremlin’s repressive system — from torture chambers to forced military recruitment.
For many human rights advocates, Osechkin has become a symbol of resistance and moral courage — a man risking his life to shine light on the suffering of thousands who cannot speak for themselves.
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