Journalists confirm links of Khangoshvili's alleged killer with FSB's special fighters

The phone billing of the person, arrested on suspicion of killing Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin, confirms his multiple calls to special agents of the Russia's FSB (Federal Security Bureau), a joint investigation conducted by The Insider, Bellingcat and Der Spiegel reveals. In their turn, former special agents treat these journalists' findings as fake and provocation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a native of the Pankisi Gorge, was shot dead in Berlin on August 23, 2019. A Russian citizen was detained on suspicion of committing the murder.

According to the authors of the above joint investigation, the Russian suspected killer of Khangoshvili had spoken by phone with the FSB's Special Operations Centre, and also visited training bases of Russian special services. The investigation results were based on an analysis of the detainee's mobile phone billing and were published on February 17.

Most often, the suspect spoke on his phone with a veteran of the V department ("Vympel" group) of the Russian special services, the head of the "Vympel" charity fund, and, formally, the owner of several private security companies, The Insider has reported.

In his turn, Valery Popov, the "Vympel" president, has stated any links of the "Vympel" FSB's special forces association with Khangoshvili' killing is contrived and a provocation, adding that the charity fund of the same name mentioned in the journalists' investigation is engaged exclusively in charity activities.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 18, 2020 at 02:07 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.