Ex-Pussy Riot member says FSB forced her to inform, ordered plot against Verzilov

August 27, 2026 at 07:55 PM2 min

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Former Pussy Riot member Rita Flores says Russia's FSB forced her to sign a cooperation agreement after a February 2023 raid on her Moscow home. She claims she was paid up to $600 a month to profile Russian artists and dissidents under the codename 'Harley'. Flores also alleges she was offered $36,000 to lure ex-boyfriend Pyotr Verzilov to a cafe in Serbia for abduction and murder.

Key Facts

Rita Flores says FSB officers forced her to sign a cooperation agreement after raiding her Moscow home in February 2023.
Flores claims she was paid $360 initially and $600 monthly from early 2024 to June 2024 for profiling Russian artists and dissidents.
Flores alleges she was offered $36,000 to lure Pyotr Verzilov to a cafe in Serbia, where he was to be abducted and killed.
Flores says she deliberately sabotaged FSB assignments for over two years, delaying planned detentions of artists and dissidents.

Forced Cooperation Claim

Flores says FSB officers raided her Moscow home in February 2023 and then forced her to sign a cooperation agreement. She claims she was threatened with a criminal case over her social media posts about alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Flores says her family was also targeted, quoting threats: 'They began to recruit me with all kinds of threats and pressure. They threatened to kill my family.' She states she worked under the codename 'Harley' and was tasked with preparing detailed profiles of Russian artists and political dissidents. Flores says she received $360 initially and $600 per month from early 2024 to June 2024.

Verzilov Assassination Plot

Flores alleges that in mid-2025 she was instructed to lure her ex-boyfriend and former Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov to a cafe in Serbia. She claims the plan was orchestrated by civilian FSB officers and aimed at Verzilov's abduction and murder. Flores says she was offered $36,000 for her role in the plot. She also states that she deliberately obstructed FSB assignments for more than two years, feigning personal grudges to delay planned detentions.