Did a Russian spy visit No10?
Arrested Ukrainian attended meetings with PM
An interpreter who was at Downing Street meetings attended by the Prime Minister has been arrested on suspicion of being a russian spy.
Senior Ukrainian government interpreter Stanislav Yezhov was held by security officials in his country for acting ‘in the interests’ of an ‘aggressor’.
it is claimed he spied for the russians for more than two years during which he worked for Ukraine’s prime minister Volodymyr Groysman and members of his cabinet.
Mr Yezhov, who has a russian wife, was allegedly recruited by Kremlin intelligence agencies while working in America.
He would have had regular access to insider information and attended high- profile meetings in london and Washington.
He was at no 10 when Mr Groysman met theresa May in July. the two leaders discussed russia’s annexation of crimea, the capability of the Ukrainian armed forces and sanctions against russia. last night it was not clear what information – if any – Mr Yezhov gathered during the talks.
But the fact that he was able to enter Downing Street will raise security fears.
He was photographed with Mr Groysman and Mrs May at no 10 during the visit.
it is understood there are dozens of russian spies in Britain, gathering intelligence to send back to Moscow.
Speaking on a visit to Poland, Mrs May said she was aware of the claims but any action taken was a ‘matter for the Ukrainian authorities’. Her spokesman briefing: told ‘ Security a Westminster at Downing Street is kept permanently under review.’ Ukraine’s security service said Mr Yezhov acted on russian orders to collect information ‘about the activities of government structures’, using ‘special equipment’. He allegedly passed on information through ‘electronic channels of communication’. Asked about the arrest, Mrs May said in Warsaw: ‘i’m aware of the reports in relation to the Ukrainian individual who attended Downing Street earlier in the summer. the action that’s been taken is a matter for the Ukrainian authorities.’
Mr Yezhov’s home and workplace were being searched by Ukrainian security services yesterday. He was seen being led away in handcuffs after his arrest in the country’s capital Kiev on Wednesday night.
the interpreter was also present for meetings between the Ukrainian government and former US vice-president Joe Biden last year.
Ukrainian MP Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to his government’s interior minister, said yesterday: ‘He worked for the russian special services for at least two years. He was recruited during his work at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington several years ago.’
Mr Gerashchenko suggested Mr Yezhov could have been intimidated into co-operating with russia by ‘some issues related to his wife’s relatives – but it will all become known during the investigation’.
if he is found guilty of spying, he could be jailed for 12 to 15 years.
Mr Gerashchenko said there were ‘a lot of russian agents’ in the Ukrainian armed forces, police and government.