Russian dissident warns of shifting safety for critics in the US

Russian dissident journalist Roman Dobrokhotov has expressed concerns that the traditional safety of United States soil for political dissidents is eroding. Speaking at the Washington Dialogue conference hosted by the National Endowment for Democracy, Dobrokhotov suggested that the unofficial rules governing espionage and targeted killings may have shifted.

Dobrokhotov was previously identified during a London trial as a target of a Russian spy ring that allegedly discussed using lethal methods, including acid or chemical agents, against him. He noted that while the U.S. has historically been viewed as a safe haven for those speaking out against the Kremlin, the current environment suggests that “nowhere is safe” and that dissidents may need to alter their behavior when traveling to America.