Escaping the Shadows of Death: The Story of Christo Grozev
He is the journalist who brought to light the horrifying reality of Putin’s assassination squads—an elite team of killers dedicated to eliminating those who oppose the Russian regime. In his relentless pursuit of the truth, investigative journalist Christo Grozev has not only tracked down the assassins responsible for the poisoning of Alexei Navalny but also identified the agents behind the notorious Salisbury poisonings. His groundbreaking work has exposed the Kremlin’s dark underbelly, turning him into a target and a public enemy of Vladimir Putin.
As a prominent investigative journalist and a vocal critic of the Russian president, Grozev has found himself on a precarious kill list, constantly evading threats to his life. His dedication to uncovering the truth has led him to assist whistleblowers and chemical weapons experts in escaping Russia, during which he has identified approximately 300 agents and has the names of an additional 5,000 spies. However, this courageous endeavor has forced him into hiding, away from his family, as he navigates a world filled with danger.
Recently, Grozev has also been pursued by a ruthless Bulgarian spy ring that plotted horrific plans, including beheading him and gassing his family. To make matters more chilling, he suspects that the recent death of his father in Austria might have been orchestrated by assassins sent by the Kremlin. As his son Christian reflects, “My dad has managed to make one of the most dangerous men on the planet very angry.”
Two years ago, a documentary he helped create about Navalny’s poisoning won both a Bafta and an Oscar. Now, his own remarkable journey is featured in a Channel 4 documentary titled Kill List: Hunted by Putin’s Spies, which reveals the shocking plot by Bulgarian agents in the UK to abduct and kill him.
Grozev expresses a complex mix of pride and guilt regarding his situation. “At different times of the day and year, I feel different,” he explains. “Sometimes I take pride in creating such a significant problem for a formidable enemy of the free world, inspiring other journalists to pursue similar paths. Yet, I also feel immense guilt for imposing this burden on my family, having to live apart from them.”
His journey into investigative journalism began after he recognized the tactics used by the Russian regime, reminiscent of the Soviet propaganda he encountered as a child in Communist Bulgaria. He started to blog about these disinformation campaigns, eventually collaborating with the newsgroup Bellingcat to investigate high-profile cases, including the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17.
Among his significant discoveries was the identification of professional assassin Vadim Karsikov, who was later sentenced to life in prison. Grozev also played a crucial role in exposing the spies behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia and turned his attention to the poisoning of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny and politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who has dual Russian and British citizenship. Kara-Murza had been a vocal advocate for sanctions against Putin, landing him squarely on the dictator’s kill list.
“After our Navalny investigation, we had an abundance of residual data,” Grozev explains, outlining how his team discovered that Kara-Murza had been targeted for poisoning not just once, but twice. Members of the assassination team had been in proximity to him the day before both incidents. Kara-Murza’s wife, Evgenia, expressed relief at the revelations, stating, “It gave us answers that we’ve been desperately looking for.”
Living Under Constant Threat
In January 2023, while in New York, Grozev learned that he was on a kill list, receiving warnings from security services about an imminent threat to his life should he return to Europe. The news struck him hard, especially after the sudden death of his father back in Austria, leading him to suspect foul play. “I think the time will come for me to investigate this more deeply, but for now, it’s still hard to fathom that it might be connected to Russian operations,” he says, grappling with his feelings of guilt over being away when his father needed him.
As Grozev delved deeper into the investigation of his own assassination plot, he faced the disturbing reality that he was, in fact, the one hunting the very spies sent to kill him. “When law enforcement advised me not to return to Europe, they hinted that the risk was tied to my investigations,” he recalls. “Then, when British police arrested five Bulgarians, I began to connect the dots.”
The Deadly Spy Network
This month, three members of the Bulgarian spy ring that targeted Grozev were convicted: Katrin Ivanova, Vanya Gaberova, and Tihomir Ivanchev were found guilty of conspiracy to spy. Three other members of the group had previously pleaded guilty to espionage charges. These spies were tasked with tracking Grozev’s every move around the globe, aiming ultimately to abduct or assassinate him.
“The messages exchanged among the group revealed horrifying plans to abduct and possibly murder me, including chilling discussions about gassing my family or even beheading me,” Grozev shares, reflecting on the shock of realizing how close he had come to death. “Seeing those messages was the first time I understood the seriousness of the threat against me and my loved ones.”
Even though the gang is now behind bars, Grozev remains vigilant, acutely aware that the Kremlin’s motivations to pursue him have only intensified. “The humiliation Putin experienced due to our Navalny investigation has only fueled the fire,” he observes. “They may have failed this time, but I know that the Kremlin will seek revenge.”
The personal cost of Grozev’s commitment to truth is staggering, but he manages to find humor in his precarious situation. He recalls how his children initially dismissed his newfound passion for investigative journalism as a midlife crisis. “They joked I’d be better off buying a Ferrari or running away with someone,” he laughs. “But as the implications of my work became clearer, they began to appreciate the significance of what I was doing.”
Despite the risks, Grozev remains steadfast in his mission, proud that his work has led to the exposure of numerous Russian operatives and has forced law enforcement agencies to adopt his investigative methods. “We’ve revealed how these spies operate, making it more difficult for them to remain undetected,” he explains. “I want to help combat the spread of oligarch-supported totalitarian regimes worldwide.”
Ultimately, Grozev acknowledges that leaving this fight is not an option. “I’ve thought about it many times, but I’ve concluded that stopping won’t reduce the risk,” he reflects. “This regime does not forgive or forget. I have to keep going, not just for myself but for the truth.”
Catch Kill List: Hunted by Putin’s Spies on Channel 4, airing Thursday, March 27th. The feature documentary version, Antidote, is also being screened in select cinemas.
