Russian investigators uncover $50,000 plan to kill RT Chief Editor Simonyan

The Investigative Committee of Russia has completed its investigation into the assassination plot targeting RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, the Committee's official spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko has said.

“The investigation has collected sufficient evidence, and the criminal case has been sent to the prosecutor for consideration of the indictment and subsequent transfer to court,” Petrenko said, TASS reports.

According to the spokesperson, the accused planned to carry out the assassination for $50,000.

The murder plot was allegedly organised by the head of a terrorist cell of the organisation National Socialism/White Power, Mikhail Balashov.

“Balashov, on behalf of unidentified individuals, together with another cell member, Egor Savelyev, agreed for a monetary reward of $50,000 to kill journalist Margarita Simonyan. The accomplices collected information on her location and movements, and after receiving firearms and ammunition from unidentified individuals, were supposed to carry out the murder,” Petrenko said.

The conspirators were unable to execute the plan as they were apprehended by FSB officers.

By Khagan Isayev