FBC’s shocking investigation into Leonid Nevzlin.
Israeli businessman Leonid Nevzlin has been accused of orchestrating attacks on several prominent figures, including Russian politician Leonid Volkov in Vilnius, Alexandra Petrachkova in Argentina (the wife of economist Maxim Mironov), and Ivan Zhdanov, director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), in Geneva.
This shocking claim was made on September 12 by the colleagues of murdered politician Alexei Navalny, as revealed in an investigation by FBK titled “Kidnap. Beat. Set on fire.” Who is trying to destroy Navalny’s team?. The allegations were also discussed during an online press conference on the Navalny LIVE channel.
✔FBK head Maria Pevchikh further warned that Nevzlin might attempt to kill her, Volkov, and Zhdanov after the release of this investigation.
Why is the Accusation Shocking?
NEWSROOM IN conducted an investigation a year ago into attacks on critics of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the European Union and the United States. After examining FBK’s investigation into Leonid Nevzlin, our investigators concluded that the methods used in the Azerbaijani and Russian attacks were nearly identical.
We’ve found striking similarities between these incidents. This points to the existence of an international market for criminal services, accessible to both intelligence agencies and wealthy individuals.
However, due to the involvement of multiple intelligence agencies, confirming even well-conducted investigations like FBK’s remains a challenge without a detailed inquiry by law enforcement agencies in EU countries.
Who is Leonid Nevzlin?
➤ Leonid Nevzlin is a prominent figure within the Russian opposition. He is one of the co-founders of the oil company Yukos, which was effectively seized by Vladimir Putin and his associates from its shareholders.
➤ Nevzlin is also one of the beneficiaries of the $50 billion international claim against Russia by Yukos shareholders. According to the arbitration decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Russia is required to pay this sum to the former shareholders of Yukos—likely with interest.
➤ Additionally, Nevzlin is linked to several opposition-affiliated Russian political structures operating in various European countries. These include the Free Russia Forum (Lithuania) and related organizations, such as the Cooperation for Democracy Foundation in Belgium and Lithuania.
➤ Nevzlin is also the publisher of Israeli media and several media projects registered within the EU, including Nevzlinmedia, a YouTube channel he took over from Mikhail Khodorkovsky. He is reportedly connected to the media outlet Sota, various Belarusian exile media projects, and several Russian and Belarusian YouTubers.
➤ Due to his proximity to opposition circles, Nevzlin has frequently interacted with Lithuanian politicians. He has participated multiple times in the Free Russia Forum in Vilnius, founded by chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, whom Nevzlin has described as a close friend.
A few years ago, public figure Mark Feygin suggested that the Free Russia Forum employees receive salaries from Nevzlin. (The Forum itself has never disclosed its sources of funding on its official page).
➤ Ultimately, Nevzlin is a long-time friend and business partner of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Khodorkovsky has referred to Nevzlin as someone closer than family.
There are numerous accounts of Leonid Nevzlin harshly criticizing those who have spoken out against Mikhail Khodorkovsky, both on social media and at public events. Some have described these reactions as Nevzlin’s “hysterics.” According to The Insider, several public figures have reported receiving threats from Nevzlin, either directly or through his representatives. These threats typically followed criticism of either Khodorkovsky or Nevzlin himself. However, as The Insider notes, all of the sources mentioned that they did not take these threats seriously.
Brief Overview of FBK’s Investigation into Nevzlin
On July 5, 2024, FBK received an email stating: “Good day! Do you know who funded and organized the attack on Volkov? Did you know his abduction and transfer to Russia was also planned? And who funded the provocations with the mock SHIZO (Solitary confinement cell) installation? Well, I know and can prove it—I have messages, and most importantly, audio recordings with the client. You know him, and you’re even friends.”
Leonid Volkov and Maria Pevchikh later contacted the sender of the email, identified as Andrei Matus. FBK referred to him as a “fixer” who could solve various issues with both criminal groups and Russian law enforcement, such as opening or closing criminal cases for the right price.
Matus revealed that he had worked for both Leonid Nevzlin and Mikhail Khodorkovsky on several matters and claimed to have evidence—audio recordings and correspondence—linking Nevzlin to the attacks on Volkov, Alexandra Petrachkova, Ivan Zhdanov, and FBK-related events. This included the arson attack on the mock SHIZO (Solitary confinement cell) installation in Vilnius last year.
Subsequently, Zhdanov, Volkov, and Matus arranged a meeting in Montenegro, where Matus was expected to present his evidence in person. Although he did provide some files, he withheld certain key materials. Matus was seeking financial compensation and help to relocate from Russia. FBK explained they couldn’t provide the money but offered to mediate contact with EU law enforcement, who might grant him witness protection in exchange for his testimony.
Matus expressed concerns for his life, claiming Nevzlin had now threatened him. The fallout between the former allies was allegedly due to financial disagreements. Matus had hired a middleman, Anatoly Blinov, based in Poland, to carry out the attack on Volkov. Blinov found Polish operatives who tracked and violently assaulted Volkov. According to Matus, Nevzlin was dissatisfied with the results of the job.
Additional Information: The Insider published its own article on the matter, adding new details to the story. According to their report, “Matus informed FBK that he was introduced to Nevzlin’s associates through Kristijonas Kučinskas, better known as Chris, the head of the Dossier Center.” Matus claimed that some time ago, Nevzlin’s people reached out to him via Chris to solve personal issues concerning Nevzlin’s relatives in Russia (this part of the story is confirmed by Chris).
This year, however, Matus said that Nevzlin personally approached him with an unusual request: to help dispose of incriminating evidence. The evidence in question was mobile phones allegedly used by individuals hired by Nevzlin, led by Anatoly Blinov. According to Matus, he was informed that Blinov had been handling Nevzlin’s dirty work in the Baltic states and was paid €250,000 to organize the attack on Volkov. However, because the injuries were minor, Nevzlin refused to pay the full amount.
Matus further explained that, after receiving a mobile phone from Blinov (though the method of acquisition wasn’t disclosed), he decided not to destroy it. Fearing for his life if he eliminated the evidence, Matus first contacted Nevzlin’s business competitors and later reached out to FBK, requesting €200,000 in exchange for the information and guarantees for his family’s safety.
In the recording made by Volkov and Zhdanov, Matus can be heard recounting Nevzlin’s reaction: “I could have beaten him up myself. I needed him to be completely incapacitated. What did you do, give him two bruises? That’s not what I paid for. The job should have been done right, and they failed. He was supposed to pay them €250,000—€150,000 of which was for the perpetrators, and they were supposed to disappear.”
According to Matus, Nevzlin never paid the promised €250,000 to the assailants. The perpetrators, in turn, began blackmailing Blinov, threatening to leak information. Blinov panicked and started calling Nevzlin. Nevzlin then asked Matus to retrieve the phones from Blinov and the perpetrators, as these devices contained evidence of the crimes committed. Furthermore, Nevzlin demanded that Matus arrange for criminal charges, such as treason, to be filed against the perpetrators. In the correspondence, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is mentioned, whom Nevzlin reportedly had closer ties with due to certain connections.
Matus suggested a simpler approach, like planting drugs on them, but Nevzlin remained adamant about his plan.
Matus refused to hand over the original files to the FBK for free but allowed them to photograph some of the correspondence and record conversations. Following this, Matus ceased communication with the FBK.
! The full FBK investigation can be found here.
FBK Investigation
The FBK decided to conduct its own investigation. Representatives of the Fund also sought assistance from investigative journalists Mikhail Maglov and Christo Grozev. On September 13, Maglov reported on a YouTube channel that he was contacted by the FBK to verify or disprove the authenticity of the correspondence. He was unaware that Grozev was conducting a parallel investigation.
Ultimately, Maglov concluded that the correspondence provided by Matus was authentic. Grozev reached the same conclusion.
RT on the Case
On September 6, 2024, the Kremlin-affiliated media outlet RT, which is under EU and US sanctions, published a story about Nevzlin’s alleged involvement in the attacks on Volkov. The report cited the same correspondence that Matus had previously shown to the FBK. In the story, Matus is referred to as a “source in the opposition,” but his name is not mentioned.
Reaction from Khodorkovsky
Mikhail Khodorkovsky commented on the FBK investigation, stating: “Regarding the accusations against Leonid Nevzlin, based on the information published by RT, two possibilities arise. Either it’s true, and then Leonid Nevzlin has gone mad, or it’s an FSB provocation and fake, for which a lot of money has been spent.” Khodorkovsky added that he is “prepared to accept the result of the investigation by law enforcement agencies and courts in democratic countries.”
Reaction from Nevzlin
Nevzlin responded: “Let an independent investigation first evaluate these so-called ‘materials,’ and if necessary, a court in a democratic country. I am confident that justice will confirm the absurdity and complete baselessness of the accusations against me,” Nevzlin stated on social media.
Reaction from Law Enforcement in Lithuania and Other Countries
The FBK, along with several organizations friendly to Nevzlin, is based in Lithuania. FBK representatives have stated that they have contacted law enforcement agencies in several countries, including Lithuania, requesting an investigation into Nevzlin’s case.
As of now, law enforcement agencies in both Lithuania and Poland have not commented on the FBK investigation. However, media in these countries are actively covering this shocking story.
