Vitaliy Portnikov says FSB is planning to assassinate him
Journalist Vitaly Portnikov says that his assassination is in the works, triggered by an excerpt from his interview with Natalia Baliuk last year, Portnikov reports on Facebook.
He noted that Russian and pro-Russian agents are using this excerpt to harass him, trying to frame it as him defending an “imaginary 'nobility' that should not be fighting in the army.”
“Anyone who listens to it will see that there was not even a shadow of a desire to shift the blame for the war onto a part of the population, on the contrary: I emphasized that in a democratic state at war everyone should stand next to one another – these words concluded my thoughts,” Portnikov said.
Vitaliy Portnikov / Photo by Vitaliy Portnikov on Facebook
According to him, the excerpts from this interview are being used to manipulate people, fostering an environment of hatred around him; Portnikov says he has received death threats.
“Then – a 'random person' whose nerves gave out. We've seen it all before. The FSB's signature style. But this is not a reason to stop working and not a reason to stop telling people the truth, even if this truth will not taste sweet for a very, very long time yet. After all, this is also an example. If I am gone, others will be telling the truth,” the journalist noted.
As the IMI reported, in 2018, journalist Vitaly Portnikov was added to Russia's sanctions list.
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