"Eastern block" uh we're talking specifically about Russia here.

>This seems more like spycraft than a politically motivated assassination.

Spies are rarely killed. They're traded for spies. Life isn't a Jame Bond movie. This, on the other hand, is clearly a politically motivated killing from a dictator known for it as well as annexing land and arbitrarily invading countries with unmarked troops.

>That being said, this case makes me wonder if political assassinations also occur in Western politics

More whataboutism when Russia comes up in the news? Color me unsurprised.