Russia claims to ID ‘Kurusee’ as a former high-ranked politician

Russia claimed on Wednesday that the person behind the anonymous X account ‘Hassan Kurusee’ is a former high-ranked Maldivian politician.

The whistleblower account, created in 2022, has over 50,000 followers on the social media platform X. Maldivian authorities have been pushing X to disclose the identity of ‘Kurusee’ since as far as back as 2023.

On Tuesday, Kurusee claimed that Russia was using the Velana International Airport in Male’ to smuggle missile chips into Moscow. He asked the US authorities to look into the allegation.

The claim sparked the ire of Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Levan Dzhagaryan, who, in a statement on Wednesday, who slammed the post “by the no-name publication” as an attempt to damage Russia-Maldives relations.

He also claimed to know the person running the anonymous account.

“We clearly know who is the mastermind of this anonymous publication and persistently request to refrain from undermining the current constructive dialogue between Russia and US,” said Dzhagaryan. “We also call not to damage the traditionally friendly #RussiaMaldives relationship.”

He added that Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has been engaged in active efforts to improve the Maldives’ financial situation.

“… and Russian tourists, who consider Maldives one of the most preferable destinations for vacation in the world, make considerable contribution to this process,” he said.

⚡️Comment by Russian Ambassador to SL and Maldives Levan Dzhagaryan on @Hassankuruseee publication designed to damage ????????
???????? relations:

We clearly know what a previously high-ranked politician (currently hiding in Europe) is behind this post.

In full: https://t.co/jS1dqglL9t pic.twitter.com/PUqSU0S3Jb

— Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka (@RusEmbSriLanka) April 16, 2025

Russia is currently ranked the third top source market for tourist arrivals to the Maldives with over 75,000 visitors so far this year.

Dzhagaryan said that Russia has identified ‘Kurusee’ as a previously high-ranked politician who is currently living in hiding in Europe.

“I’m persuaded, that the Republic leadership knows what a previously high-ranked politician (currently hiding in a European country) is behind this post and will not let his destructive actions affect our amicable ties with Male,” he said.

‘Kurusee’ is famous for accusing top government officials, including the president, of corruption and embezzlement.

In August 2023, the Criminal Court issued a warrant at the request of the police to find out the identity of the person behind the anonymous account. However, all efforts by the police to uncover the identity through official sources have failed so far.

‘Kurusee’ had previously been thought to be former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, especially after he acknowledged ‘Alex Ahmed’ as his unofficial account.

But in April 2023, Nasheed said that the anonymous account was causing him harm, and lodged a police complaint to find out the person behind the account.

The court order in August 2023 was issued in response to a petition filed by the police in the investigation into the case.

The account currently has over 50,300 followers.