Times Online January 23, 2006
The Russian intelligence services have accused British diplomats of hiding high-tech spying equipment in an imitation rock, and planting it beside the street in a leafy Moscow suburb
Pictures of the high-tech 'spying rock', broadcast on Russian state-controlled television
Anglo-Russian relations rocked by spy scandal
By Simon Freeman and agencies
British diplomats in Russia were today embroiled in an extraordinary Cold War-style intrigue following claims that British agents used a hollowed-out rock as a computerised dead drop in a spying ring.
Russia's intelligence services today confirmed claims in a documentary broadcast on Rossiya state television last night that British embassy officials planted the imitation rock, packed with transmitting equipment, in a square on the outskirts of Moscow.
Footage taken from hidden cameras showed what the programme claimed were British officers walking past the boulder and surreptitiously downloading classified data onto palmtop computers. It also showed what were said to be local agents approaching the stone apparently to upload instructions for their top-secret missions.
Unfortunately for the alleged spies, the rock's wiring was dodgy. In one episode, an agent was filmed pretending to relieve himself in shrubs as he fiddled with its sophisticated electronics. In another, the rugby-ball sized stone was picked up and carried away for repairs.
The documentary claimed that four officials from the British embassy and one Russian citizen, allegedly recruited by the British secret service, were engaged in the operation. The Russian citizen was later arrested, it said.
It was alleged that one of the embassy officials involved in the spying ring had also been authorising regular payments to Russian non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Although such payments are made openly, the claim will reinforce the Kremlin's assertion that foreign-backed charities are fronts for spying. The Russian Parliament, or Duma, will this week debate a Bill giving the state powers to close down NGOs critical of its policies.
Critics today said that although bizarre, the plot was not implausible. However, the timing of its release has raised suspicions that it is a blatantly political manouevre to garner domestic support for the Bill while silencing Western criticism.
Officials from the FSB, Russia’s internal security service, explained the story in a series of interviews shown on the television programme. An anonymous FSB official confirmed its claims independently today.
"At first we thought this was a normal, typical secret drop-off point camouflaged under a stone. However, later when our specialists carried out their investigation it became clear that the stone contained an electronic device," an FSB officer told Rossiya.
The stone allegedly contained equipment able both to receive and transmit information, the officer said. "This was absolutely new spy technology," he added.
"Yes. I can confirm that everything that was shown was true and based on our information," a spokesman for FSB intelligence told Reuters.
"The diplomats were shown to be involved in activities that were incompatible with their diplomatic status," he said - diplomatic jargon for spying.
The Foreign Office today said that the allegations made in the documentary were "surprising" but stopped short of saying they were untrue. It denied any such improper conduct by British Embassy staff.
In London, a spokesman for the Foreign Office said:"We are concerned and surprised at these allegations. We reject any allegation of improper conduct in our dealing with Russian NGOs.
"It is well known that the UK government has financially supported projects implemented by Russian NGOs in the field of human rights and civil society. All our assistance is given openly and aims to support the development of a healthy civil society in Russia."
Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent, said he believed Russia was firing a warning shot at Western critics of the NGO's crackdown.
He said: "There is no doubt about it, that the British, and Americans and others, have been active in the spying field, but this is extraordinary. It is likely that they are getting at Britain purely and simply as a way of warning the US."
thetimesonline.co.uk
The Russian intelligence services have accused British diplomats of hiding high-tech spying equipment in an imitation rock, and planting it beside the street in a leafy Moscow suburb
Pictures of the high-tech 'spying rock', broadcast on Russian state-controlled television
Anglo-Russian relations rocked by spy scandal
By Simon Freeman and agencies
British diplomats in Russia were today embroiled in an extraordinary Cold War-style intrigue following claims that British agents used a hollowed-out rock as a computerised dead drop in a spying ring.
Russia's intelligence services today confirmed claims in a documentary broadcast on Rossiya state television last night that British embassy officials planted the imitation rock, packed with transmitting equipment, in a square on the outskirts of Moscow.
Footage taken from hidden cameras showed what the programme claimed were British officers walking past the boulder and surreptitiously downloading classified data onto palmtop computers. It also showed what were said to be local agents approaching the stone apparently to upload instructions for their top-secret missions.
Unfortunately for the alleged spies, the rock's wiring was dodgy. In one episode, an agent was filmed pretending to relieve himself in shrubs as he fiddled with its sophisticated electronics. In another, the rugby-ball sized stone was picked up and carried away for repairs.
The documentary claimed that four officials from the British embassy and one Russian citizen, allegedly recruited by the British secret service, were engaged in the operation. The Russian citizen was later arrested, it said.
It was alleged that one of the embassy officials involved in the spying ring had also been authorising regular payments to Russian non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Although such payments are made openly, the claim will reinforce the Kremlin's assertion that foreign-backed charities are fronts for spying. The Russian Parliament, or Duma, will this week debate a Bill giving the state powers to close down NGOs critical of its policies.
Critics today said that although bizarre, the plot was not implausible. However, the timing of its release has raised suspicions that it is a blatantly political manouevre to garner domestic support for the Bill while silencing Western criticism.
Officials from the FSB, Russia’s internal security service, explained the story in a series of interviews shown on the television programme. An anonymous FSB official confirmed its claims independently today.
"At first we thought this was a normal, typical secret drop-off point camouflaged under a stone. However, later when our specialists carried out their investigation it became clear that the stone contained an electronic device," an FSB officer told Rossiya.
The stone allegedly contained equipment able both to receive and transmit information, the officer said. "This was absolutely new spy technology," he added.
"Yes. I can confirm that everything that was shown was true and based on our information," a spokesman for FSB intelligence told Reuters.
"The diplomats were shown to be involved in activities that were incompatible with their diplomatic status," he said - diplomatic jargon for spying.
The Foreign Office today said that the allegations made in the documentary were "surprising" but stopped short of saying they were untrue. It denied any such improper conduct by British Embassy staff.
In London, a spokesman for the Foreign Office said:"We are concerned and surprised at these allegations. We reject any allegation of improper conduct in our dealing with Russian NGOs.
"It is well known that the UK government has financially supported projects implemented by Russian NGOs in the field of human rights and civil society. All our assistance is given openly and aims to support the development of a healthy civil society in Russia."
Richard Sakwa, Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent, said he believed Russia was firing a warning shot at Western critics of the NGO's crackdown.
He said: "There is no doubt about it, that the British, and Americans and others, have been active in the spying field, but this is extraordinary. It is likely that they are getting at Britain purely and simply as a way of warning the US."
thetimesonline.co.uk
