I'm lucky to be alive, says journalist tracked by Russian spies

Roman Dobrokhotov, an investigative journalist and editor-in-chief of The Insider, recently spoke to the BBC about his harrowing experience of being targeted by a Russian spy cell. He expressed that he feels 'lucky to be alive' after being followed by spies who were allegedly ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Dobrokhotov, along with his colleague Christo Grozev from Bulgaria, became targets due to their investigative work exposing Russia's involvement in significant incidents, such as the nerve agent attacks in Salisbury in 2018 and the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2020. He stated, 'I'm very lucky to be alive,' highlighting the dangers faced by journalists who uncover uncomfortable truths about powerful governments. The situation escalated in December 2020 when the investigative group Bellingcat published a report on Navalny's poisoning. On that day, the leader of the spy cell sent a message indicating interest in Grozev, marking a turning point for both journalists. Dobrokhotov believes that Putin was directly involved in the decision to target them, stating, 'In this dictatorship, you would never take responsibility on your own to do such political stuff. You will always have a direct order from the president. ' A message from Jan Marsalek, who led the spy ring, revealed that he did not consider Grozev a valuable target but acknowledged that Putin had a strong dislike for him. This insight into the inner workings of Russian intelligence illustrates the extent of the threat faced by investigative journalists. Following 2020, the spy cell tracked Dobrokhotov and Grozev across Europe, monitoring their movements on planes, in hotels, and even in private residences. They discussed plans to kidnap and potentially kill the journalists, with discussions about smuggling Dobrokhotov out of the UK in a small boat. Dobrokhotov expressed that such an operation would likely lead to his death. In January 2023, just before police arrested members of the spy cell in the UK, he received a warning that leaving the country could be dangerous. Unbeknownst to him, Bulgarian spies had been closely following him, even getting so close on one flight that they were able to see the PIN code for his mobile phone. This alarming detail underscores the serious nature of the threats he faced. Dobrokhotov believes that the police action against the spies sends a clear message. He remarked, 'Vladimir Putin doesn't understand messages in words, only in actions. ' He explained that actions like Ukraine receiving long-range missiles are messages that Putin can comprehend. Similarly, the arrest and imprisonment of his spies serve as a significant message to the Russian leader. He noted that the involvement of Bulgarians in ordinary jobs reflects the limitations of Russian espionage, especially after many professional spies were expelled from Western countries. However, he cautioned that these spy cells remain a serious threat. Dobrokhotov's motivation stems from a desire to change Russia, as he does not want to live in a country where journalists are killed for doing their jobs or for criticizing the government. He stated, 'While we are existing, it is very difficult for Vladimir Putin to feel strength inside the country. ' He believes that he and his fellow journalists will be targets for Putin for the foreseeable future. On Friday, several Bulgarians were found guilty of conspiracy to spy, including Vanya Gaberova, Katrin Ivanova, and Tihomir Ivanchev. This outcome highlights the ongoing risks faced by journalists and the importance of holding those who engage in espionage accountable for their actions.