Roman Dobrokhotov lives with a chilling certainty: he is a marked man. His crime? Unmasking the agents of the Russian state responsible for deploying the deadly nerve agent Novichok on British soil – first in Salisbury, then against opposition leader Alexei Navalny. This revelation ignited a furious response within the Kremlin, transforming Dobrokhotov from investigative journalist into a primary target.
Forced to flee his homeland after identifying those involved in the Navalny attack, Dobrokhotov found himself pursued even in the UK. A recent trial exposed a terrifying plot orchestrated by a network of Bulgarian agents working on behalf of Russia. Court documents detailed discussions of gruesome methods – ricin, VX nerve agent, even the chilling suggestion of being “burned alive” or dissolved with super-strong acid. Six spies were ultimately jailed for 50 years, but for Dobrokhotov, the conviction offered little comfort.
“I don’t have paranoia that my door handle could be poisoned – it is a rational expectation,” he stated, the weight of the threat palpable. He knows he’s on multiple “kill lists” maintained by at least three branches of Russian intelligence. Protecting his family, he refuses to disclose his current location, existing in a state of carefully managed anonymity.
His daily life is a meticulous exercise in self-preservation. Opening doors with a handkerchief, scrutinizing drinks, and assessing every interaction with strangers – each action is filtered through the lens of potential danger. He instinctively responds to questions as if addressing a Russian spy, guarding against inadvertently revealing information. It’s not constant stress, he explains, but a constant state of heightened awareness.
Dobrokhotov even keeps specific acids on hand, a grim precaution against potential nerve agent exposure. The attempted poisonings haven’t ceased; other dissidents have fallen ill under mysterious circumstances, prompting investigations into a disturbing pattern. The recent death of Alexei Navalny, confirmed to be caused by the potent neurotoxin Epibatidine – derived from South American poison dart frogs – has deepened his concerns.
This shift to a less traceable toxin, Dobrokhotov believes, signals a change in Kremlin tactics. Novichok was well-known, easily detected. Epibatidine offers a veil of obscurity. He welcomes the West’s public condemnation of Russia’s actions, recognizing its power to influence both public opinion within Russia and the broader international community.
“It’s one thing when people like me say Navalny was poisoned. It’s another thing when the world community says it,” he emphasized. He believes such unified pressure, while not immediately altering Putin’s behavior, will incrementally restrict his capacity for these kinds of attacks. The revelation that Russia hasn’t fully destroyed its chemical weapons stockpile further underscores the gravity of the situation.
Despite the ever-present danger, Dobrokhotov remains resolute. He believes European security services have become more effective at disrupting Russian operations since the invasion of Ukraine. He is determined to continue his work with The Insider, relentlessly exposing the identities of Russian agents and their clandestine activities.
“If you hold a tiger by its tail, it is scarier to let it free than to keep pulling,” he stated, a metaphor for his own precarious position. He believes continued investigation is his best defense, turning the hunter into the hunted. He also warns of a disturbing new recruitment tactic: Russia is increasingly utilizing encrypted Telegram channels to enlist unwitting individuals.
These recruits, often unaware of the true nature of their assignments, are vulnerable to arrest and lengthy prison sentences. Dobrokhotov stresses the urgent need for public awareness: any task solicited through an anonymous Telegram channel should be treated with extreme suspicion, as it likely originates with the Russian government. The stakes, he warns, are incredibly high.
