Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Independent TV

Showing now | News

Defecting Russian protection officer labels Vladimir Putin 'war criminal'

01:09

Defected Russian protection officer labels Vladimir Putin a ‘war criminal’

Vladimir Putin’s former protection officer has branded the Russian president a “war criminal” after defecting from the country.

Gleb Karakulov and his family fled to Turkey after accompanying Putin on a visit to Kazakhstan in October 2022.

Speaking to the Dossier Center, an investigative outlet founded by exiled Putin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the 35-year-old Federal Guard Service (FGS) captain addressed his former colleagues.

“What is happening now [with the war in Ukraine] is beyond the pale, it defies reason. You mustn’t follow criminal orders and serve this war criminal, Vladimir Putin,” Mr Karakulov said.

Sign up for our newsletters.

Up next

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in