PUTIN’S DRIVE TO RECRUIT BRIT TRAITORS
Spooks and diplomats warned that ruthless Russians will try to ‘turn’ them
RUSSIAN spies are targeting ex-MI6 officers and diplomats in a bid to turn them into agents. The Foreign Office has put out an urgent warning over the tactics of Putin’s spooks. A memo states: “Russian services regard them as high-priority targets.”
VLADIMIR Putin’s ruthless campaign to recruit traitors from Britain comes as he tries to appear strong at home, experts say.
The Russian President is under growing pressure amid a flagging economy and recent blunders by his GRU intelligence agency – including the botched novichok attack in Salisbury.
A former British intelligence officer told the Mirror: “The perceived threat Putin wants to portray to Russians is that the West is surrounding them and that his motherland is a victim.
“Whilst all the time he can smirk at the suggestion the GRU has been trying to disrupt Western democracies, the blunders his men have made are becoming embarrassing. His intelligence
agencies are desperate to claw back credibility by making inroads into Britain’s intelligence operations by recruiting insiders.”
Such is the escalating campaign by Moscow’s spooks that Foreign Office officials have sent out an urgent warning to ex-MI6 staff and diplomats.
The memo, leaked to the Mirror, states loved ones could be threatened.
It says: “Russian services regard both current and former retired members of the service as high-priority targets. Russian services have a tradition of using pressure in their operations. This may be used against both former members of staff and close relations.”
Russian spies use a variety of tech- niques to coerce people into becoming agents or disclosing secrets, ranging from blatant threats of violence to subtle persuasion. Behind the scenes for years, Moscow’s spooks have become increasingly aggressive towards Western diplomats, sometimes resorting to violence.
The Mirror understands several US staff have been beaten up by Russian thugs on the intelligence agency payroll.
Some have also had their homes burgled. One security source said: “This is an intimidation tactic, it breeds insecurity, builds up tension and is considered a breach in the professional standards of the intelligence community.” The Foreign Office declined to comment on the memo.
FOREIGN OFFICE MEMO ON RUSSIAN THREAT
Tensions between Russia and Britain escalated in March with the novichok nerve agent attack by GRU operatives Anatoliy Chepiga and Alexander Mishkin on former Kremlin intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia.
Twelve GRU men have also been indicted with hacking the US election.
There are few known examples of Britons becoming Russian spies.
However, one is still alive. George Blake, 95, turned on being captured during the Korean War. In 1961 he was jailed for being a KGB double agent.
He escaped in 1966 and fled to the Soviet Union. In 2007 he was awarded the Order of Friendship by Putin.
■ Spies involved in novichok-style attacks will face EU sanctions including asset-freezing and travel bans, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will say today.
Pressure may be used on former members of staff and relations