 |
The
assassination of Litvinenko in London in 2006 was another high-profile case
linked to Russian intelligence. Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive
polonium-210, leading to his death three weeks later. |
In recent years, the Russian intelligence
agencies GRU (Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the
Russian Federation) and FSB (Federal Security Service) have intensified their
assassinations outside of Russia. These covert operations often involve the use
of toxic substances to poison and kill targeted individuals.
While some of these assassinations have
received significant media attention, many others have gone unnoticed or
unreported. I’d like to shed more light on these murderous actions by Russian
intelligence outside of Russia, their motives, tactics, and the broader impact
of their activities.
One of the most infamous instances was the
poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury,
England in 2018. The GRU used the highly toxic nerve agent Novichok to carry
out the attack. Additionally, other notable cases include the poisoning of
Bulgarian arms dealer Emilian Gebrev in 2015 and the murder of former KGB agent
Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.
The poisoning of Gebrev exemplifies the
GRU's readiness to carry out assassinations beyond Russia's borders. Gebrev,
his son, and a manager of his company were all poisoned with a lethal nerve
agent. Although they survived the initial poisoning, Gebrev was poisoned again
two weeks later, falling into a coma and requiring critical hospitalization.
The identification of the poison as a member of the same nerve agent family
used in the Skripal poisoning further highlighted the GRU's involvement.
The assassination of Litvinenko in London
in 2006 was another high-profile case linked to Russian intelligence.
Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210, leading to his death
three weeks later.
Investigations
revealed that the poison had been administered by two Russian agents, one of
whom was a former KGB officer, and that the assassination had been approved at
the highest levels of the Russian government. The incident strained UK-Russia
diplomatic relations, resulting in the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the
UK.
Shortly after the Litvinenko poisoning, an
event unfolded that blew my mind away...the shooting of Paul Joyal in 2007. It
was a high-profile incident that garnered attention due to its potential
connection to Russian intelligence. Paul Joyal, a former U.S. government
security analyst and a prominent critic of the Russian government, was attacked
outside his home in Maryland.
On March 1, 2007, he returned home when an
assailant approached him, shot him, and left him critically wounded. The attack
occurred shortly after Joyal had appeared on a television program discussing
the murder of former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko! Joyal
had expressed concerns about the involvement of Russian intelligence in
Litvinenko's assassination.
The shooting raised the eyebrows of U.S.
intelligence. I’m sure many CIA analysts and operative believe there is a
direct connection to Russian intelligence due to the timing of the shooting and
Joyal's outspoken views on Russia. For years, he voiced concerns about the
tactics and activities of Russian intelligence. Joyal had also published an
opinion piece in The Washington Post in which he criticized the Russian
government's handling of the Litvinenko case.
When I read the report of the investigation
into the shooting and that it did not establish a direct link to Russian
intelligence, one intelligent thought arose in my mind...BS! Anyhow, no arrests
were made, the assailant's identity and motive remain unknown, and the case
remains unsolved.
There is another probable Russian
intelligence murder on American soil that also leaves me in awe...the death of
Mikhail Lesin. He was a former Russian government official and media executive
who was found dead in a hotel room in Washington, D.C., on November 5, 2015. And,
once again, U.S. intelligence suspects foul play by Russian intelligence.
Mikhail Lesin was a prominent figure in
Russian media and politics. He created the state-owned media conglomerate
Gazprom-Media and served as the Minister of Press, Television, and Radio Broadcasting
in the Russian government from 1999 to 2004. He was known for his close ties to
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Hmm...close ties to Vladimir Putin...then
why suspect his death was none other than a natural one? Let me explain. Initially,
Lesin's death was reported as a result of natural causes, specifically blunt
force injuries to his head sustained during falls while heavily intoxicated.
The official cause of death was determined to be "blunt force injuries to
the head," and the manner of death was ruled as an "accident" by
the U.S. authorities.
However, over time, doubts and speculation
emerged about the official narrative. Questions were raised about the
plausibility of Lesin sustaining the injuries from falls, considering the
severity of the trauma. The presence of other injuries, including to his neck,
led some to believe that foul play might have been involved.
In 2016, the District of Columbia Medical
Examiner's Office released a revised report stating that Lesin's death was
caused by "blunt force injuries of the head" and classified the
manner of death as "undetermined." Quite a change in the official ruling
of his death!
Hang on, the story isn’t over. U.S.
intelligence, all along, was suspicious of Russian intelligence involvement because
of Lesin's connections to the Russian government and his potential knowledge of
sensitive information. In other words, he may have been targeted for his role
in Russian media control and his knowledge of the inner workings of the Russian
government. He knew too much!
In fact, the Lesin case reminds me of the classic
spy movie "The Man Who Knew Too Much". The movie shares a thematic
connection with the death of Mikhail Lesin, as both involve individuals who
possessed significant knowledge about the inner workings of intelligence
agencies and found themselves caught up in dangerous circumstances.
Just as Dr. Benjamin McKenna and his wife
in the film become unwittingly entangled in an international assassination
plot, Mikhail Lesin, a former high-ranking Russian government official and
media mogul, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room in
Washington, D.C. Lesin's death raised questions and speculation due to his
extensive knowledge of Russian intelligence and the inner workings of the
government.
It seems there are inherent risks for
those who possess sensitive information. The Lesin case and this classic spy
movie both remind us of the perils for those who have knowledge that threatens
powerful interests, and highlight the risks involved in uncovering or
possessing classified information.
I'm sure many professionals in U.S.
intelligence are rolling their eyes as they read the mainstream news reports
stating, "No concrete evidence linking Russian intelligence to Lesin's
death has been publicly presented. The case remains officially classified as
undetermined, and the exact circumstances surrounding his death remain
uncertain." I believe many individuals in U.S. intelligence have their own
interpretations regarding the nature of his demise; they see the fingerprints
of Russian GRU spies all over it.
These actions by Russian intelligence are
a threat to global security, for they are a blatant disregard for international
law and the sovereignty of other nations. Conducting assassinations on foreign
soil without regard for local laws sets a dangerous precedent that threatens all
of us: the use of toxic substances poses a unique threat to public health and
safety for both targets and innocent bystanders.
Raising public awareness of these brutal actions
is vital for several reasons. Firstly, it helps individuals and governments
understand the risks to national security, diplomatic relations, human rights,
and public health. Secondly, awareness allows for proactive measures to prevent
future attacks. Finally, it emphasizes the need for global cooperation to
condemn and hold accountable those responsible for state-sponsored
assassinations.
The spy thriller MISSION
OF VENGEANCE serves as a fictional portrayal of the danger posed by
Russian intelligence. It follows CIA spymaster Corey Pearson, who is tasked
with hunting down Russian GRU Spetsnaz assassins responsible for killing an
American family in the Dominican Republic. The plot sheds light on the
activities of Russian intelligence agencies outside of Russia and their
potential consequences.
The homicidal actions of Russian
intelligence outside of Russia, particularly the GRU and the FSB, have
far-reaching implications for global security, international relations, human
rights, and public health. To address these threats, governments and the
international community must work together. Cooperation and information sharing
can help prevent future attacks, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure
that state-sponsored assassinations do not go unpunished. By staying informed
and vigilant, individuals can take measures to protect themselves and their
communities.
Although MISSION OF VENGEANCE is a work of fiction, it highlights the potential consequences for those caught in the crosshairs of Russia’s state-sponsored assassinations. The blatant use of toxic substances in assassinations is totally unacceptable.
Robert
Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO)
and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster
series.
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