The Russian spies hiding in plain sight
In June 2022, Vladimir Putin tipped up at a party at the headquarters of Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR. This was to mark, of all things, the centenary of the country's programme of deep-cover spies, who live for years abroad under elaborate false identities while passing secrets back to their masters at home. The weirdness of that espionage hoopla, just four months after the invasion of Ukraine, leaves one wondering what other bizarre birthday events Putin might have in his diary. The 85th anniversary of the assassination of Leon Trotsky, perhaps? Ah, you can imagine the banter. The cracker hats. The roll-out noisemakers.
Yet it's not out of the question – as we learn from this thrilling book by the journalist Shaun Walker, which grabs you by the lapels from the very first page. It recounts the 100-year history of the covert Russian agents known in the SVR as 'illegals' (as opposed to the spies thinly disguised as diplomats abroad, the 'legals'). The murder of Trotsky in Mexico in August 1940, when an ice-pick was planted in the back of his head, was one of the proudest triumphs of the illegals programme.
Ironically, Trotsky's early life as an outlaw Bolshevik, creeping about the capitals of Europe under various aliases, would foreshadow and inspire the illegals. Consider the time Lenin and the gang met up in a pub in Islington, claiming to be a convention of foreign barbers. There's a direct line from here to the outlandish adventures of Dmitry Bystrolyotov, the most colourful of the characters whose stories Walker tells. He was a handsome fellow with a raffish moustache who at different times passed himself off as a Dutch artist, a Greek businessman, an English aristocrat and a Canadian timber merchant.
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Scottish Sun
38 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Police slammed over daft hate crimes including trans woman banned from ladies loo & man singing Scots song in England
The bizarre cases were among at least 6,300 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) recorded in 2024 LOO-NACY! Police slammed over daft hate crimes including trans woman banned from ladies loo & man singing Scots song in England COPS are still logging bizarre hate incidents — including the singing of anthem Flower of Scotland at an English railway station. An investigation by The Sun reveals how police — under fire for not catching shoplifters and burglars — are wasting vital time on the 'non-crime hate incidents'. 5 Police across Britain stand accused of failing to tackle 'actual crimes' while instead investigating 'hate' complaints (stock picture) Credit: Alamy 5 One force probed concerns about a man singing anthem Flower of Scotland at an English train station (stock picture) Credit: PA:Press Association 5 Cops also investigated a pub landlord who stopped a transgender woman using his ladies' loo (stock picture) Credit: Alamy Former officers and MPs want the 'crackers' cases scrapped. Police stand accused of failing to tackle 'actual crimes' while instead investigating 'hate' complaints — including one about a pub landlord who stopped a transgender woman using his ladies' loo. Cops also logged a case after a caller put on an Indian accent to order a chicken tikka masala from a takeaway. Another force was contacted by a person whose new boss called their designer clothes 'fake' and told them of an intimate Where's Wally tattoo. The bizarre cases were among at least 6,300 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) recorded in 2024. The true figure would be much higher as 15 of the 44 police forces in England and Wales did not disclose figures under a Freedom of Information request. MPs and top cops led calls to stop wasting time on NCHIs, which are recorded where no criminal offence has been committed but the 'victim' feels it was motivated by hate or prejudice. Shadow Justice Minister Robert Jenrick said: 'We have lost the plot. 'Practically everyone in the country will have at some point said something that would get them reported. 'This is crackers. Moment Met boss dodges question over two-tier policing of riots by grabbing reporters' mic & chucking it to floor 'We need to scrap NCHIs altogether.' Reform UK's Lee Anderson added: 'The majority of these incidents are reported by total snowflakes. 'These are the people who should be charged with wasting police time. 'Officers should be investigating proper crimes not hurt feelings. 'Those who complain should go and live on a remote island with some of our celebrities who make a living out of being offended.' The person in Bedfordshire upset by the Where's Wally tattoo also complained of the supervisor asking about their shoes and requests to remove their durag hair covering. The incident was recorded as 'sex-based and hate-motivated'. The police log obtained by The Sun says: 'The victim felt irritated for the rest of the shift as it was mean and uncalled for.' In Dunstable, Beds, a complainant said they heard a neighbour gossiping on their Ring doorbell, then point at their home and make an insult before walking off. Bedfordshire Police said: 'We record hate related incidents in line with national guidance set out by the College of Policing.' South Wales Police, which dealt with the trans row, recorded 40 NCHIs last year. It said one 'perpetrator' was aged nine, another 11. Humberside Police logged the case where a person put on an Indian accent to order a curry. West Yorkshire Police handled 175 complaints — one from a man who claimed his bins kept being moved because he was gay. Forces that did not provide their figures included London's Met — the UK's biggest — West Midlands, Essex and Devon and Cornwall. Ex-Met detective Peter Bleksley said: 'These examples are ludicrous and a total waste of police time. 'Waste of police time' 'It is not a policing matter if someone is singing Flower of Scotland. 'If it were, the whole of the Met would have to be deployed when Scotland play rugby at Twickenham. 'These are mostly juvenile situations and officers should not lower themselves to getting involved. 'It is a serious problem when a lot of actual crimes are not investigated.' NCHIs were introduced in 2014 and are meant to help forces develop intelligence on situations that could potentially escalate. In some cases, cops speak to those supposedly committing offences. An NCHI can remain on file for six years and, in some cases, be disclosed to a prospective employer. A report this week by think tank Civitas called for NCHIs to be abolished. Author Hardeep Singh said: 'Some activist groups continue to weaponise them against their political opponents. "We've seen the most absurd incidents being recorded over the years, and precious police resources should not be drained by policing online ideological disputes.' 5 Cops also logged a case after a caller put on an Indian accent to order a chicken tikka masala from a takeaway Credit: Getty - Contributor 5 Another force was contacted by a person whose new boss called their designer clothes 'fake' and told them of an intimate Where's Wally tattoo Credit: Alamy In 2023, the Home Office issued guidance instructing officers to consider if there was genuine hostility in the incident or whether it could be considered freedom of speech. Earlier this month, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the policy of recording NCHIs had 'passed its sell-by date'. Sir Andy Marsh, head of standards body the College of Policing, called on officers to use more 'common sense' and signalled that the recording of NCHIs needs to be scrapped. He said: 'What we've wrapped up that objective in doesn't stand up to scrutiny on many occasions under the common-sense test. 'We need to fix it. 'I don't want to be policing freedom of speech.'
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
How Greek island Lesbos stopped migrant invasion using controversial yet effective ‘pushback' deterrent hailed by locals
When The Sun visited this week, there was not a single sea arrival on Lesbos SMALL BOATS BLITZ How Greek island Lesbos stopped migrant invasion using controversial yet effective 'pushback' deterrent hailed by locals AS the influx of illegal migrants to Britain's shores shows no sign of abating, something very different is happening 2,000 miles away on the Greek island of Lesbos. Here, just seven miles across the Mytilini Strait from Turkey, the number of crossings has shrunk, thanks to a controversial but extremely effective deterrent. Advertisement 8 An African migrant reacts with emotion after arriving on Lesbos in 2020 Credit: Alamy 8 Fisherman Thanassis Marmarinos saw migrants' bodies in the sea Credit: Ian Whittaker 8 Overflow for the old Moria 'camp of shame' on Lesbos Credit: Ian Whittaker At its peak ten years ago, up to 3,500 migrants a day landed on Lesbos, having made the perilous journey across the Aegean Sea in makeshift boats and cheap dinghies. But now, thanks to Greece's robust policy of 'pushbacks' — intercepting the boats and returning them to Turkish waters — that number has plummeted to just 1,700 so far this year. Aegean Boat Report, a Norwegian non-governmental organisation that monitors migrant flows in the area, says Turkey also regularly intercepts boats before they reach the Greek Islands and returns them to the mainland. Campaigners have slammed the practice, claiming it is illegal, but locals say the crackdown has saved the scenic holiday retreat from economic disaster — and most importantly, it has saved lives. Advertisement READ MORE ON MIGRANT CRISIS VLAD'S DINGHY PLOT Migrant crisis fuelled by Russia in secret plot to destabilise Britain Fisherman Thanassis Marmarinos recalls the horror of seeing the bodies of migrants in the sea before Greece's hardline anti- immigration government was elected in 2019. Floating corpses He said: 'It was extremely bad before, I can't imagine it being any worse. 'Every day there were thousands of migrants crossing. 'For five months I couldn't make any money because I would spend all my time trying to stop them drowning. Advertisement 'People were asking for help and they were dying in the water, so I had no other option. 'I saw the corpses floating in the sea with my own eyes. Migrants dodge tear gas in sprint across beach to reach boats bound for Britain 'In 2015 there was only one coastguard ship and they were overwhelmed, so I and four other fishermen did what we could to help save lives. 'The smugglers were charging about 2,000 euros per person for the 90-minute sailing to Lesbos. Advertisement 'But to save money they were giving the migrants cheap, Chinese-made boats that had two sections to their engines — one full of fuel, the other full of water, so they would stop working halfway.' In 2015, triggered by war and political unrest in the Middle East and Africa, the refugee crisis had one of its deadliest years for small-boat crossings. A total of 805 people drowned as they tried to cross what is dubbed the Eastern Mediterranean corridor by Frontex, the European Union's border and coastguard agency. An incredible 800,000 landed in Greece the same year, 60 per cent of them reaching Lesbos, according to the UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency. Advertisement Since then, Frontex has expanded hugely, from a small administrative office in Warsaw to the EU's biggest agency, with 10,000 armed guards backed by helicopters, drones and ships and with an annual budget of more than a billion euros. Another six billion euros has been paid to Turkey to boost border security, and unlike Britain's £500million three-year deal with France, it has led to a sharp fall in people-smuggling. 8 Holidaymakers at Molyvos as tourism begins to recover Credit: Ian Whittaker 8 Waiter Kristos Condeli backs 'pushback' policy Credit: Ian Whittaker Advertisement 8 Last year 54,000 small-boat migrants reached the Greek Islands from Turkey, and as we reported last week, Frontex has recorded a further 29 per cent fall in irregular migration through its Eastern Mediterranean border in the first quarter of this year. Fewer crossings have led to a fall in fatalities of more than 75 per cent since 2015, with 191 asylum seekers reported missing or dead in the same area last year. This is despite the Greek government banning charities and individuals from helping small-boat migrants while they are at sea — another key difference from the UK, where 1,371 people crossing the Channel were rescued by the RNLI last year. Advertisement On Lesbos, new arrivals are not given a hotel room, and currently around 1,100 people are being housed in containers at the Closed Control Access Centre on the north east coast, where the provisions are basic. Sometimes when refugees reach here, they catch them, put them on a boat and drop them in the middle of the ocean on a life raft. Joaquin O'Ryan This is in contrast to two years ago, when up to 5,000 people had their claims processed there, while 20,000 were held in the island's old Moria 'camp of shame' before it was destroyed by fire in 2020. Fisherman Thanassis, 72, is one of the many islanders who believe that the election of the hardline New Democracy party in 2019, when Kyriakos Mitsotakis became Greece's Prime Minister, was a turning point. He said: 'Everything changed when New Democracy was elected and they started sending the migrants back to Turkey. Advertisement 'After that it became a bad deal to pay to cross to Greece, because you would end up back where you started.' When The Sun visited this week, there was not a single sea arrival on Lesbos, despite the Aegean being perfectly calm. Key to the change has been the decision to redesignate Turkey as a 'safe third country' for asylum-seekers. But charities insist the pushbacks are illegal, and Frontex is currently investigating alleged human rights violations by the Greek coastguard. Advertisement 8 Aid worker Joaquin O'Ryan of humanitarian group Europe Cares Credit: Ian Whittaker 8 A Greek coastguard vessel based at Lesbos Credit: Ian Whittaker A statement by Aegean Boat Report said: 'Systematic human rights violations at the Greek sea border have been ongoing for over five years. 'Almost 100,000 people have been illegally and violently removed from Greek territory and pushed back towards Turkey, over 1,000 people have been killed in these illegal operations.' Advertisement Joaquin O'Ryan, of humanitarian group Europe Cares, which provides meals and activities for people living in the CCAC camp, said: 'These pushbacks are illegal but it's a systemic process — they are not being carried out by just one person — so they can do whatever they want, basically. 'Sometimes when refugees reach here [Lesbos], they catch them, put them on a boat and drop them in the middle of the ocean on a life raft.' The Lesbos coastguard now has around half a dozen frigates, some supplied by Frontex, and most of the islanders we spoke to support the tough action being taken by the authorities. Waiter Kristos Condeli, 60, said: 'Tourism was completely destroyed for a few years after 2015. Advertisement 'The cruise ships stopped coming here because they didn't want passengers to see corpses floating in the sea. 'There were thousands of migrants coming here and some of them resorted to stealing to survive. 'It got to the point that it was no longer safe to leave your bag in your car as someone would smash the window and steal it. 'UK could learn a lot' 'With no tourists, there was very little work for waiters. Advertisement 'I had to relocate to Corfu to make a living and I've only recently been able to move back. 'The number of migrants crossing is down significantly in recent years and it's all thanks to the coastguard and Frontex, who are doing a fantastic job. 'The UK could learn a lot from the things done here.' Receptionist Maria Dimitriou works at the island's Molyvos Hotel. Advertisement She fears the migrant problem has been pushed further south to Crete, where 6,500 migrants from Libya in North Africa have landed in the last six months. She said: 'Before the crisis started, we had one of our best years for tourism. 'The hotels were full of visitors from Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium and the UK. 'When the migrants first started coming, the tourists said they wanted to help them. Advertisement 'But the next year no one came back. 'I can only guess that they were put off by all the TV reports and they didn't want to risk seeing a dead body when they were on holiday. 'The drop in numbers almost destroyed the tourism industry in Lesbos. 'If it wasn't for weekend visitors from Turkey, this island would already be dead. Advertisement 'In 2015 the refugees were everywhere. 'We felt sorry for the people from Syria, who were escaping a genuine war zone. 'After that, they were from everywhere and tell me, how can you be called a refugee when you are from Pakistan? 'The tourism industry is getting back to normal now and this hotel is close to full capacity for the next few months. Advertisement 'But everyone is worried that, given what is happening in Iran and Palestine, the situation might get worse again.'
JAMnews
2 hours ago
- JAMnews
'Russian trace' suspected in Armenian clergy: Another priest faces criminal charges
Criminal charges against archbishop Adjapahyan Armenia has launched yet another criminal case against a high-ranking clergyman — Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The development comes amid the foiling of an alleged coup attempt in Armenia and the subsequent arrest of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, head of the Tavush Diocese. The case against Adjapahyan concerns 'public calls for the seizure of power and the violent overthrow of the constitutional order.' Last week, Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan was arrested under the same charge. Archbishop Adjapahyan has dismissed the charges as fabricated and unlawful, yet he stands by his statements. 'I will continue in the same spirit,' he declared. For several hours, law enforcement officers attempted to detain the head of the Shirak Diocese, but were blocked by supporters gathered at the residence of the Catholicos of All Armenians in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The officers ultimately left without making an arrest. 'The National Security Service and the police of the Republic of Armenia, guided by security concerns and seeking to avoid a deliberate escalation, decided to leave the grounds of the Mother See,' a statement from the NSS explained. Meanwhile, the Catholicosate stated that the clergyman had not been properly notified of the requirement to appear before the Investigative Committee. They stressed that he was not attempting to evade the summons and attributed his absence to the crowd at the residence, which had prevented him from following the officers to their vehicle. Some time later, Archbishop Adjapahyan began walking to Yerevan on foot, accompanied along the way by a group of loyal parishioners. At the time of publication, they had not yet reached their destination. Political analyst Ruben Mehrabyan described the events as theatrical. 'They are trying to turn the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin into a shield to protect themselves from legitimate prosecution,' he told JAMnews. Call for violent overthrow of power According to lawyer Ara Zograbyan, the criminal case was initiated on the basis of an interview the clergyman gave on 3 February 2024. In the interview, the archbishop spoke of the need for a military coup to overthrow the government. He went further, stating that he had discussed the matter with former presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharyan. 'I said, Mr President Kocharyan, you were President of Armenia for ten years, and of Karabakh for just as long. Is there really not a single general — in the army, the police, or the NSS — who supports you, shares your ideology, and would stand with you to carry out a coup?' he said during the interview. Public debate has since turned to the question of why the investigation is only being launched a year and a half after this statement. Law enforcement searched for Adjapahyan in Gyumri, found him in Etchmiadzin Law enforcement officers initially went to detain the archbishop in Gyumri, where the Shirak Diocese is based. A search was conducted on site, and some materials were confiscated. However, Adjapahyan was not there. It was later established that the head of the diocese had travelled to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The clergy claimed he had come from Gyumri to hold a meeting. Representatives of Armenia's ruling party believe the archbishop was deliberately brought to the country's spiritual centre to dramatise the situation. They say this was done to provoke public reaction and encourage crowds to block his detention. 'Help, the security forces have come to the Mother See,' Vice Speaker of Parliament Ruben Rubinyan said, describing the alleged move. At midday, officers from the National Security Service arrived in Etchmiadzin. Tensions rose as soon as they appeared near the Patriarchate. A scuffle broke out between members of the clergy and security personnel. Shortly after, the head of the Shirak Diocese appeared with the Catholicos of All Armenians and said he would go with the NSS officers. 'What is happening is absolutely unlawful. But I have never gone into hiding and I'm not going to now. I don't want to give the impression that I'm hiding behind my brothers' backs,' he said. He added that he posed no threat to the country. 'The real threat sits in the government building,' he said, referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Supporters prevented Adjapahyan from travelling to Investigative Committee, escorted him on foot instead Although the archbishop agreed to travel to Yerevan with law enforcement, a scuffle broke out at the scene. Worshippers in Etchmiadzin blocked the cathedral's entrances and exits, preventing security forces from taking the clergyman. Adjapahyan's attempts to enter the NSS vehicle were unsuccessful Clergy members told journalists that Adjapahyan intended to report to the authorities voluntarily, but 'proud and faithful citizens' prevented him. 'No one is trying to evade an uncommitted crime,' said Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisya Expert commentary Political analyst Ruben Mehrabyan believes this is the right moment to respond to Adjapahyan's statements — not a year and a half later. He sees it as no coincidence that the criminal case was launched alongside the exposure of a coup plot in Armenia. 'As of February last year, one could have dismissed it as the irresponsible talk of an individual. But now we have material evidence showing that these statements were not merely words thrown into the air, but part of an organised network aiming to bring them to life.' The analyst asserts that the actions of the Armenian clergy show not only Russian involvement but also direct oversight and coordination: 'This is evidenced by the reaction of the Russian Orthodox Church to the arrest of Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan. It's also shown by the fact that Karapetyan led the creation of the 'ArBat' battalion, and the Catholicos's brother gave his blessing to this 'ArBat', and so on.' ArBat is a Russian special forces battalion made up of ethnic Armenians, mostly Russian citizens. Members of the group that allegedly planned to stage a coup in Armenia were trained there. Last year, Armenia's Investigative Committee announced the dismantling of the criminal group. Returning to the case against Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan, Mehrabyan stresses: 'The state must see it through and give a criminal-legal assessment of violent acts, coup attempts, and all statements or appeals that call into question Armenia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Everyone is equal before the law, regardless of rank or religious office. That is the essence of the rule of law. And the state is obliged to defend and uphold that principle.' He argues that, in parallel with law enforcement efforts, the authorities must also ensure 'strategic communication with society.' According to him, this is the only effective way to counter hybrid attacks on the country. The analyst notes that Armenia is not the only state targeted by such tactics from Russia. He cites Moldova as another example: 'Strikingly, Russia uses the same tools, the same crude methods, only adjusting them to local specifics. We see the same in Moldova: Moldovan oligarchs, clergy, mercenaries, dirty money.'
