Foiled Putin assassination not confirmed

15 March, 2008, 12:35

A source from Russia's security service has denied that an assassination was being plotted against president Vladimir Putin and president-elect, Dmitry Medvedev. This comes after a newspaper gave details of an alleged plot, reportedly due to have taken place on the night of the country's election.

Tvoy Den newspaper says that Russian security forces prevented the assassination attempt. A 24-year-old Tajik national was detained when a central Moscow apartment was stormed.

Weapons were reportedly found there.

On March 2nd, both Putin and Medvedev appeared before a large crowd on Red Square, in perfect sight from the windows of the apartment.

The detained man has admitted to owning the weapons, including a Kalashnikov rifle, but has not revealed what they were for, writes the paper.

He was arrested several hours before Putin and Medvedev appeared in public.