Russian agents foiled Putin assassination attempt: report

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

MOSCOW (AFP) — Russia's secret service foiled an assassination attempt on President Vladimir Putin in Red Square on March 2, the day of the presidential election, the Tvoi Den daily reported on Saturday.

The newspaper did not cite any sources but gave a detailed account about the arrest of a Tajik national with a sniper rifle in a raid on a rented apartment near Red Square just hours before Putin was due to give a speech there.

Contacted by AFP, the Federal Security Service (FSB) could not immediately comment on the report. Tvoi Den, a popular daily, often prints exclusive reports on Russian politics citing unnamed officials.

An informant told FSB officials a few days before the election that Putin's assassination was being planned and that an apartment had...