swear an oath to the party: The Mitrokhin archive, located at K-16 506, Churchill College Archives, Cambridge University, details one oath, although Elena Vavilova says she swore a standard military oath.
Another head of the directorate compared: https://espionagehistoryarchive.com/2015/05/15/inside-kgb-directorate-s-the-illegals/#more-181/.
As the moment arrived, Bezrukov and Vavilova: The exact date of their arrival is unknown to the Canadian immigration authorities—perhaps because they still do not know what identity they arrived with, according to documents from the Registrar of Citizenship in Canada sent to Alexander Vavilov, dated August 15, 2014. However, the couple in an interview talk of a twenty-three-year mission that would date their departure from Russia to 1987.
They had cleared out every pocket: Elena Vavilova recounts this process in her loosely fictionalized novel published in June 2019. She acknowledges in one interview to promote the book that details up to their departure for the West are based on truth.
3: STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND
The monument was at a picturesque site in Canada: Bezrukov and Vavilova TV interview, “Новые русские сенсации”: “Русские разведчики-нелегалы в Америке,” NTV, April 24, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDU879mQjSA&feature=player_embedded.
Canada was the ideal launching pad for illegals into America: In 1994 it was found that even secondary checks on suspicious individuals at the border picked up people who were not supposed to enter the country, with particular failures when it came to detecting false travel documents. It was only in 2002 after the 9/11 attacks that Canada improved its border intelligence and screening. http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_200304_05_e_12911.html.
“Canada is a lot like the US, only colder”: Jack Barsky, Deep Undercover (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum, 2018), p. 137.
“I had to get an education again”: http://rusrep.ru/article/2012/10/08/pochemu/ and https://www.pravda.ru/society/1426603-vavilova/.
“Every undercover agents’ family have to decide”: Joint interview of Bezrukov and Vavilova, https://tvzvezda.ru/schedule/programs/content/201705051916-tpaz.htm/201903010843-rtct.htm.
“We carefully weighed this, of course, discussed a lot”: https://www.pravda.ru/society/1427554-vavilova/.
She had visited Hungary four years: James Adams, The New Spies (London: Pimlico, 1995) and “The Spy Who Came in from the Supermarket,” Daily Mail, April 29, 1992.
increase the focus on illegals: Waller, Secret Empire, p. 135, and Kouzminov, Biological Espionage.
“strengthen the illegal branch”: “The Illegals: Inside Story,” BBC TV, June 10, 1992.
Alexander Kouzminov, later explained: Kouzminov, Biological Espionage, p. 135.
“the most detailed and extensive pool”: UK Intelligence and Security Committee special report on Mitrokhin.
the defection meant that Moscow could not be sure that the legend: Christopher Andrew, The Secret World (London: Penguin, 2018), p. 715.
the two hundred leads Mitrokhin produced: Intelligence and Security Committee report 2003–2004 citing government response to its Mitrokhin Inquiry Report.
John Scarlett became MI6’s first-ever head of station: Scarlett comments in a Royal United Services Institute podcast in September 2019.
The CIA and MI6 were opening up intelligence stations in its neighborhood: Yevgeny Primakov’s memoir, Russian Crossroads (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2004), p. 100.
“Russia as the defeated side”: Trubnikov comments from interview. US secretary of state James Baker had used the formula of “not one inch eastward” in a 1990 meeting: GWU’s National Security Archive report, https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2017-12-12/nato-expansion-what-gorbachev-heard-western-leaders-early.
running a sting operation: Primakov makes a similar claim in his memoir, At the Crossroads, p. 101. The intelligence agency was Germany’s BND.
4: “KARLA”
At that moment a young Russian walked up to him: Details of PROLOGUE and Zhomov drawn from a number of people directly involved in the case; also Bearden and Risen, The Main Enemy, and Sandy Grimes and Jeanne Vertefeuille, Circle of Treason (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2013), p 118.
code-named “Max”: David Wise, The Seven-Million-Dollar Spy (Audible, 2018). The Russian would also provide intelligence that helped catch another traitor, Jim Nicholson. See Bryan Denson, The Spy’s Son (New York: Perseus, 2016).
Aldrich Ames was a second-rate spy: Accounts are from a number of those involved and Grimes and Vertefeuille, Circle of Treason; Bearden and Risen, The Main Enemy; and Michael Sulick, American Spies (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2013).
A CIA delegation headed to Yasenevo to deal: https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/us-and-russian-intelligence-cooperation-during-yeltsin-years.
5: UNDERCOVER
“It is like walking a tightrope”: “Новые русские сенсации”: “Русские разведчики-нелегалы в Америке,” NTV, April 24, 2019.
“Diapers Direct”: Michael Friscolanti, “The Russian Spies Who Raised Us,” Maclean’s, August 10, 2017.
special boarding schools for the children of illegals: Kouzminov, Biological Espionage, p. 88.
In one case an illegal spent seventeen years abroad: https://espionagehistoryarchive.com/2015/04/01/interview-with-a-soviet-spymaster/.
“I was really young, I have no idea”: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/07/discovered-our-parents-were-russian-spies-tim-alex-foley.
the real Gordon Lonsdale: For more see Gordon Corera, The Illegal, Amazon ebook, 2018.
“Heathfield does not know Russian”: Bezrukov and Vavilov 2019 TV interview, https://tvzvezda.ru/news/qhistory/content/201931106-ftYfe.html.
“forget it, get rid of it”: “Новые русские сенсации”: “Русские разведчики-нелегалы в Америке,” NTV, April 24, 2019.
In August 1995, the family sold off the business: Timothy Vavilov’s affidavit submitted in Canadian court case.
The illegals’ mission was to: In the early eighties, the KGB had planned to expand to six illegal “residencies” (meaning agents or couples) in place. Each was supposed to recruit three or four sources in the White House, State Department, Pentagon, and also think tanks and universities—these included the Hudson Institute, Rand Corporation, Columbia University’s School of International Relations, and Georgetown’s Center for Strategic Studies. Moscow also wanted active recruitment of students at Columbia, New York, and Georgetown Universities.
“the Royal Canadian Scotch Stagger”: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/us/01cambridge.html and https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/at-harvard-alleged-spy-hosted-a-scotch-drink-up/article4323320/.
“The main task of an agent is constantly climb”: “Новые русские сенсации”: “Русские разведчики-нелегалы в Америке,” NTV, April 24, 2019.
6: THE SOURCE
One KGB colleague from those days: https://www.newsru.com/russia/04may2011/poteev_character.html. Further details of his life and career from http://www.rosbalt.ru/moscow/2011/05/16/849215.html and https://www.newsru.com/russia/27jun2011/poteev_prigovor.html and “Media: Russian Spies in the United States Were Betrayed by the Belarusian KGB Officer,” November 17, 2010, https://charter97.org/en/news/2010/11/17/33872/; The Mitrokhin Archive, vol. 2 (London: Penguin, 2005); and Vladimir Kuzichin, Inside the KGB (London: Andre Deutsch, 1990).
When he arrived every morning: The description of the residency is drawn from Comrade J by Pete Earley (New York: Berkley, 2007).
When he visited Yasenevo: Early, Comrade J, pp. 155–57.
His former colleagues would claim Poteyev sold them out: http://www.rosbalt.ru/moscow/2011/05/16/849215.html. Other accounts in Russia are more far-fetched. There was a confused story about the break-in at th
e family apartment having somehow been staged by the CIA to seal his disillusionment. But he had already been recruited by then. Other details from Grani.ru website June 28, 2011, http://www.rosbalt.ru/moscow/2011/05/16/849215.html; “Foes Among Friends,” New Times, May 23, 2011; and Kommersant, July 8, 2011.
Only three officers had access to the personal files: Yuriy Senatorov, “For Outstanding Services: Defector Sentenced to 25 Years’ Imprisonment in Absentia,” Kommersant Online, Wednesday, August 10, 2011.
In Madrid in the summer of 1996, a rugged first secretary: The most detailed account comes in Mark Urban, The Skripal Files (London: Macmillan, 2018). Also additional private information.
By the middle of the decade, MI6 had reduced by two-thirds: Intelligence and Security Committee report, 1995.
7: THE INVESTIGATION
not who he said he was: Details in this chapter are drawn from FBI complaint against the illegals and related court documents as well as interviews with FBI officials involved in the investigation.
Peru: The FBI does not name Peru as the country. Peruvian press confirmed Pelaez’s entry to the country around this time and that of Lazaro for the later 2007 meeting.
a political refugee: Vicky Pelaez, “la combativa ‘espía’ que vino del Cusco,” El Mercurio, July 4, 2010.
“She was a very passionate woman”: “Spy Mystery: Was NY Columnist a Wife Betrayed?” Associated Press, July 10, 2010.
“I first admired him for his knowledge”: Pelaez’s own account was published in https://mundo.sputniknews.com/opinion/20110805149975896/.
The real Juan Lazaro was a toddler: Richard Boudreaux, “Busted Russian Spy Wants Old Life Back,” Wall Street Journal, August 7, 2010, https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703309704575413600124475346.
which he received in 1979: Ibid.
Russian reports, whose accuracy is hard to judge, suggest his marriage to Pelaez was genuine: Kommersant, November 11, 2010.
He praised Hugo Chávez, the populist left-wing leader of Venezuela: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/nyregion/30suspects.html.
This is a classic decades-old communications technique: All the illegals were trained on shortwave radio. It would later be superseded by newer techniques for regular communication, but they were expecting to be able to use it as a backup and primarily to receive rather than send information.
8: BREAKING AND ENTERING
It was the middle of the night: Information in this chapter drawn from interviews with FBI officials involved in the case and other documents associated with the case against the illegals.
great-granddaughter of former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10665123 and https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/07/14/the-spy-who-came-in-by-amtrak/.
The two families would barbecue together: “We can’t believe our friends are Russian spies,” Daily News, June 30, 2010.
“What I think of is these two eating a hamburger”: Ricci speaking in an interview at https://www.usanetwork.com/insidethefbinewyork/blog/the-true-story-of-husband-and-wife-russian-spies-living-in-america.
“We owned almost every facet of their life”: Robert Anderson quoted in Fox Files, March 25, 2013—“Operation Ghost Stories.”
Tony Rogers of the Boston FBI field office: “Operation Ghost Stories: The Spies Next Door,” CNN Declassified, July 22, 2017.
“The only goal and task of our Service”: evidence presented in July 1, 2010, detention request to Judge Ellis.
9: PUTIN’S SPY FEVER
On December 20, 1999, hundreds of Russia’s spies took refuge: Putin made good on his promise to FSB; Moscow Times, February 8, 2008.
As Litvinenko entered Putin’s office in the Lubyanka: Litvinenko described his meeting with Putin in The Gang from the Lubyanka, quoted in the Litvinenko Inquiry report and also in his police interviews on his deathbed.
A few weeks after Putin became prime minister: Sutyagin case details from https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/revealed-how-russian-spy-gave-248366 and “Revealed: The Incredible Story behind Midland House at Centre of Russian Espionage Scandal,” Sunday Mercury, March 4, 2001.
US-Canada Institute: This was not part of the government but during the Cold War the institute had been an occasional target for espionage—with the Americans running at least two agents inside and the KGB having its own undercover operatives to keep watch. See Grimes and Vertefeuille, Circle of Treason, and Cherkashin’s memoir.
“He was small, slight and mild-mannered”: Spies may have used my seminar as cover. Gloucestershire Echo, March 1, 2001.
Sutyagin was arrested: Sutyagin’s arrest and trial details from “Russia’s Spy Mania: A Study of the Case of Igor Sutiagin,” Human Rights Watch report, and Sarah Karush, “FSB Keeps ‘Traitorous’ Scholar Jailed,” Moscow Times, February 16, 2000; “Sutyagin Verdict Worries Scientists,” Moscow Times, April 7, 2004; “Ruing Exile, Russian Says He’s No Spy,” New York Times, August 13, 2010; reports by Ekho Moskvy Radio, April 7, 2004, and October 25, 2004.
What was Alternative Futures?: https://www.rferl.org/a/Interview_Igor_Sutyagin_Discusses_Spy_Swap_Life_In_England/2127860.html. Around 10,000 Russian scientists were reckoned to moonlight for foreign companies to make ends meet. “Sutyagin Verdict Worries Scientists,” Moscow Times, April 7, 2004.
“see a young man destroyed”: “Russian Faces Spy Trial Over Trip to UK,” Guardian, February 26, 2001.
Sutyagin always said: “Ruing Exile, Russian Says He’s No Spy,” New York Times, August 13, 2010, and “Russian Pundit Dismissed Spy-Swap Analyst’s Protestations as Lies,” Yezhednevny Zhurnal website, August 26, 2010.
a high-ranking Russian spy spoke anonymously to the media: “Spy Case Shows That Russia Is Recovering,” RIA Novosti, April 9, 2004.
“How else can you make dough like that?”: “Spy Swapped in Deal with Russia Could Return to House in Maryland Suburb,” Washington Post, July 11, 2010, and details from individuals with knowledge of the case.
He had been able to search FBI computer systems: Michael Rochford speaking on the podcast Case File Review with Jerri Williams, August 20, 2016.
His home was searched: Wise, The Seven-Million-Dollar Spy.
The KGB had never liked running an agent whose identity they did not know: Cherkashin, Spy Handler, p. 240.
$7 million payoff: Wise, The Seven-Million-Dollar Spy, and Gus Russo and Eric Dezenhall, Best of Enemies (New York: Twelve, 2018).
sat across a table from Zhomov: Milt Bearden, “No Letup in Search for ‘the 4th Man,’” Los Angeles Times, June 15, 2003.
He was interrogated personally by Zhomov: Russo and Dezenhall, Best of Enemies, p. 244, and Ronald Kessler, The Secrets of the FBI (New York: Broadway, 2011).
10: TARGETING
Information in this chapter is drawn from interviews with FBI officials and others involved in the case or individuals who knew the illegals, as well as the indictment and other legal documents.
Colleagues remember a well-organized, hard worker: Friscolanti, “The Russian Spies Who Raised Us.”
“He wanted to collaborate”: Interview with Bill Halal, http://billhalal.com/?page_id=2 and https://www.washingtonian.com/2010/07/14/the-consultant-was-a-spy/.
“It was a piece of junk”: http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/07/01/business_opened_doors_for_spy_suspect/?page=full.
Heathfield tried to market his software to government agencies: https://www.bcdemocratonline.com/article/20100629/NEWS/306299963.
He met an employee of STRATFOR: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/russian-spies-and-strategic-intelligence.
“We believe the SVR illegals may well have hoped to do the same thing here”: Quoted in https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/operation-ghost-stories-inside-the-russian-spy-case.
a company called Redfin, based in Somerville: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/us/01cambridge.html.
“She was nice, friendly, very normal”: “Alleged Spies Always Strived for
Connections,” Boston Globe, June 30, 2010.
Timothy had been born in June 1990: Affidavit of Timothy Vavilov.
“We were trying to avoid making them typical Americans”: “Новые русские сенсации”: “Русские разведчики-нелегалы в Америке,” April 24, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDU879mQjSA&feature=player_embedded.
“then at least respect”: Bezrukov interview, “Why Spies Are Like Scientists,” Russian Reporter, October 11, 2012, https://expert.ru/russian_reporter/2012/40/pochemu-shpionyi-pohozhi-na-uchenyih/.
“As a family we loved to travel”: Affidavit of Alexander Vavilov (aka Alexander Foley), March 2014.
“The highest class of intelligence”: Bezrukov interview, “Why Spies Are Like Scientists.”
He was a computer technician: “Russian spy ring aimed to make children agents,” Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2012.
“we would hear him watching The Sopranos”: “Operation Ghost Stories: The Spies Next Door,” CNN Declassified, July 22, 2017.
SVR officers would say: Andrei Soldatov says he was told of other cases by SVR staffers in an interview on the Svobodnaya website, October 24, 2011.
11: ENTER ANNA
The young Russian was hard to miss: Details of Anna Chapman’s life are drawn from interviews with a dozen individuals who knew her in London. See “The Photo Album of Suspected Russian Spy Anna Chapman and Her Ex-Husband Alex,” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/7868331/The-photo-album-of-suspected-Russian-spy-Anna-Chapman-and-her-ex-husband-Alex.html?image=1 and https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/7866824/Russia-spy-Anna-Chapmans-husband-I-thought-I-knew-her.html.
This would have been a disappointment to Marcus Read: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/my-crazy-six-weeks-of-passion-with-russian-237500.
Ana later denied that there were any “secret motives”: https://web.archive.org/web/20110713163907/http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3530430/Russian-spy-on-love-for-Brit-hubby.html.
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