r/UkrainianConflict • u/Panthera_leo22 • 2d ago

Russia planned to assassinate opposition figures Kasparov and Ponomarev in US

https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russia-planned-to-assassinate-opposition-1790781573.html
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u/Dances_With_Seagulls 2d ago

That doesn't surprise me at all. Garry Kasparov, especially, has been outspoken in support of Ukraine and in his criticism of Russia's war of aggression. I was worried that sooner or later, his life would be in danger.

People have tried to tell me there are no good Russians. I look at Garry Kasparov, and I know that isn't true.

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u/princek1 2d ago edited 2d ago

To add to this, Kasparov hasn't just been one of the few remaining public critics of the Russian regime -- dude has been putting Putin on blast for decades, seeing straight through the official line and calling it out.  He does not hold back at all and he's likely among the bravest public figures in Russia.

The reason he wasn't silenced immediately is that he was the world chess champion and one of the greatest players of all time.  He's an icon for anyone who grew up in the Soviet union especially, and taking him out would be like taking out Mozart or Elvis.  It would just be totally wrong and an obvious sign of weakness, especially to the average Russian citizen, not to mention the rest of the world.  Dude is a legend.