Beltway Confidential

Why Russia employs weird ways to kill defectors abroad

By Tom Rogan
Published March 7, 2018 10:12pm ET
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Why Russia employs weird ways to kill defectors abroad
Russian intelligence services want those who have betrayed them to always fear their every waking moment. (AP Photo/ITAR-TASS, Dmitry Astakhov, Presidential Press Service) | DMITRY ASTAKHOV

As appears to be the case with Sergei Skripal in Britain on Sunday, Russian intelligence services like to use innovative but brutal weapons to assassinate defectors abroad.

They do so in order to send a message both to serving intelligence officers and to other defectors who have thus far eluded their grip — a message that Russia never forgives and never forgets those who betray it.

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Tag:

Commentary Russia Tom Rogan United Kingdom Vladimir Putin