The case reveals alarming links between Russian state actors and criminal gangs in London, targeting Yevgeny Chichvarkin of Hide, as court proceedings detail their arson and kidnapping plans.**
Plot Unveiled: Russian Operatives Target Michelin-Star Chef in London**
Plot Unveiled: Russian Operatives Target Michelin-Star Chef in London**
A criminal conspiracy involving Russian intelligence aims to kidnap a dissident and destroy his renowned restaurant.**
In a shocking revelation at the Old Bailey courthouse in London, a criminal conspiracy involving Russian operatives has emerged, targeting Yevgeny Chichvarkin, the owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant Hide in Mayfair. Established in 2018, Hide quickly gained fame for its unique design and exquisite offerings. However, last year the establishment became the focus of a sinister plot orchestrated by Russian intelligence agents, intent on kidnapping Chichvarkin — a vocal opponent of President Vladimir Putin — and burning his restaurant to the ground.
Before law enforcement intervened, the gang of small-time criminals had managed to carry out a violent act, igniting a Ukrainian-owned warehouse in East London in March 2024. Evidence gathered by police from extensive communications revealed the depth of this conspiracy and the alarming collaboration between Russian state agents and local criminal elements.
Cmdr. Dominic Murphy from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command described this case as a stark example of Russian involvement in facilitating serious criminal acts abroad through ‘proxies’. This week, a jury found three men guilty of arson related to the warehouse incident, while another was convicted for withholding knowledge about the operation against Chichvarkin. The ringleaders, Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves, have already admitted their roles in the plot, exposing a chilling connection between international political tensions and local criminality in the UK.
Before law enforcement intervened, the gang of small-time criminals had managed to carry out a violent act, igniting a Ukrainian-owned warehouse in East London in March 2024. Evidence gathered by police from extensive communications revealed the depth of this conspiracy and the alarming collaboration between Russian state agents and local criminal elements.
Cmdr. Dominic Murphy from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command described this case as a stark example of Russian involvement in facilitating serious criminal acts abroad through ‘proxies’. This week, a jury found three men guilty of arson related to the warehouse incident, while another was convicted for withholding knowledge about the operation against Chichvarkin. The ringleaders, Dylan Earl and Jake Reeves, have already admitted their roles in the plot, exposing a chilling connection between international political tensions and local criminality in the UK.
