According to the U.S. The case exposes active transnational targeting of critics and Western infrastructure by operatives tied to Moscow.
The Alleged U.S. Assassination Plot and Recruitment Tactics
Court documents reveal that defendants Yaidel Delgado Suárez and Angel Eduardo Castro recruited a Brooklyn-based resident this summer to track a Russian dissident believed to be living in Washington, D.C., according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors state that Suárez also searched for other individuals to execute the contract.
European Infrastructure Targets and Russian Intelligence Handlers
Beyond the U.S. operation, the federal indictment ties senior Russian intelligence figures to wider sabotage plots in Europe. According to the Justice Department, retired Russian intelligence colonel Yuri Khrameev and his son, Kirill Khrameev—an officer in the Federal Security Service (FSB)—attempted to recruit a U.S. citizen in 2025 to assassinate a person in Lithuania accused of spreading negative information about Russia. When the target declined the murder contract, the operatives proposed burning down a warehouse or attacking an electrical substation instead, federal prosecutors said. Meanwhile, defendant Oemis Romagoza Durruthy coordinated travel and logistics for attacks in the Czech Republic and Lithuania throughout 2024.
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Identities of the Accused and Pending Legal Action
The five individuals named in the Manhattan federal court indictment include:
- Yuri Khrameev, 63, a former colonel in Russian intelligence.
- Kirill Khrameev, 27, an FSB officer and son of Yuri Khrameev.
- Oemis Romagoza Durruthy, 35, a Cuban citizen described as a prominent member of the Cuban diaspora living in Russia.
- Yaidel Delgado Suárez, 35, a Cuban citizen.
- Ángel Eduardo Castro, 22, a Venezuelan citizen.
All five defendants face charges of conspiracy to finance terrorism and currently remain at large, per court filings. Additionally, Yuri Khrameev, Delgado Suárez, and Castro face a count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum prison sentence of ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary charges against the defendants?
The five men are charged with conspiracy to finance terrorism. Selected defendants also face conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of ten years.
Where was the indictment filed?
The indictment was unsealed and filed in a federal court in Manhattan, New York.
Are the defendants in custody?
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