​Bulgarian investigative journalist Kristo Grozev, the group’s chief researcher in Russia, says he is being forced to move from Austria because of the threat posed by Russian intelligence in that country, The Moscow Times reports.

He stated this in an interview with the Viennese newspaper Falter.

“I suspect that there are more agents, informers and henchmen of the Russians in the city than the police,” he said about the Austrian capital.

He also said he was forced to cancel his return to Austria after several of his sources in the intelligence community told him he would be in danger if he did. He is currently visiting the USA.

The Bulgarian journalist lived for almost 20 years in Vienna, where he benefited from the protection of the Austrian security services.

Far-reaching investigations in which Kristo Grozev participated

As Russia’s chief investigator, Grozev played a key role in the investigation into the alleged involvement of Russian intelligence services in the UK poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and Russian dissident Alexei Navalny on a flight to Siberia.

He was also involved in the investigation that identified two Russian servicemen believed to be involved in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines flight in eastern Ukraine in 2014 that killed 298 people.

In November of last year, the former commander of pro-Russian separatists in Donbas, Ihor Girkin, was sentenced in the Netherlands to life imprisonment for his participation in the downing of the plane. Together with him, a former Russian intelligence agent and another separatist leader from eastern Ukraine were convicted.

It is unlikely that any of them will ever be extradited by Russia to Dutch justice.

The Bulgarian journalist was persecuted by Russia while living in Austria

Grozev was prosecuted by Russia on December 26 last year, and Moscow says the move was in no way justified.

“I still don’t have any information as to why I’m wanted, and the only explanation is from the state news agency RIA Novosti, which claims I was spreading fake news about the Russian army,” he said in an interview earlier this month. year

At the same time, he said he may have been blacklisted by the Kremlin after one of his recent investigations found 33 Russian servicemen operating missiles launched at civilian targets in Ukraine.

Russian authorities banned investigative site Bellingcat in mid-July, ironically by its founder at the time, as it has no legal or financial presence in Russia.

“In this case, the question of my protection exceeds my personal interest, because for the first time the law intended for citizens of Russia applies to citizens of other countries, especially the European Union. This would be unprecedented and pose a great threat to all journalists,” he added.

In the same interview, he also condemned the penetration of Russian special services into Bulgaria.

“It is not safe for me to walk around my native Plovdiv (Bulgaria’s second largest city) or walk along the coast. I am more relaxed with my family in the country where I am,” he said then.

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