Of
Catherine Kahlweit
A few days ago, the Russian Ministry of the Interior issued an arrest warrant for Christo Grozev, which is why he preferred to change planes in South Korea rather than in Dubai on his flight home to the EU from Australia, where he had last stayed. In Seoul, he says on the phone, the “residual risk” of being detained is far lower than in countries in the Middle East, which – despite the war – want to keep their good relations with Russia. Grozev is considered an enemy of the state in Russia; up until now, he says, he has been repeatedly persecuted and threatened. But being on a Russian wanted list makes life even harder for the investigative journalist and Russia specialist from the online research network Bellingcat.