Sunday, September 25, 2011

Russian spy agency targeting western diplomats

UK Guardian

FSB using psychological techniques developed by KGB to intimidate and demoralise diplomatic staff, activists and journalists

Vladimir Putin
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, was a lieutenant colonel in the KGB and ran its successor, the FSB. Photograph: Carlos Baria/EPA

Russia's spy agency is waging a massive undercover campaign of harassment against British and American diplomats, as well as other targets, using deniable "psychological" techniques developed by the KGB, a new book reveals.

The federal security service (FSB) operation involves breaking into the private homes of western diplomats – a method the US state department describes as "home intrusions". Typically the agents move around personal items, open windows and set alarms in an attempt to demoralise and intimidate their targets.

The FSB operation includes the bugging of private apartments, widespread phone tapping, physical surveillance, and email interception. Its victims include local Russian staff working for western embassies, opposition activists, human rights workers and journalists.

The clandestine campaign is revealed in Mafia State, a book by the Guardian's former Moscow correspondent Luke Harding, serialised in Saturday's Weekend magazine...[Full Article]

Link