Spain’s Foreign Ministry will send a strong response if the involvement of Russian secret services in the crime is proven

Spanish intelligence services have no doubt that the long hand of the Kremlin is behind an unprecedented crime: the assassination in Alicante of Maxim Kuzminov, the Russian captain who defected last August and crossed over to Ukraine with his Mi8 combat helicopter.

Publicly, the Spanish government has been very cautious regarding who was possibly responsible for the murder. “We have to let the Guardia Civil [national police force] do its job and for the investigation to progress,” said government spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, on Tuesday.

However, diplomatic sources recognize that, although they are still waiting to gather enough information, it is a “very serious” matter. If the involvement of the Russian authorities is confirmed, they add, Spain will give a “forceful response.”