London rocks with spy accusation

I thought the cold war was over. Apparently no one told the Brits about it. Or is it all something which we the ordinary Joes never knew. Was the cold war trully over?

Moscow's accusation of espionage by British diplomats takes us back all the way to late 70s and early 80s. Only this time, the technic in use is remarkably high-tech - a wireless transmitter in a rock! But its function is the same. It acs just like the 'dead letter drop' techniques implemented in the past.

The Russian secret agency FSB on Monday confirmed claims made in a state television programme that it had uncovered a James Bond-style spying operation involving four British diplomats using the transmitter hidden in a fake rock on a Moscow street to gather information.

It said the spies had also financed NGOs, including the Moscow Helsinki Group, one of the most prominent human rights campaigners in Russia.

Sergei Ignatchenko, a spokesman for the FSB says:

"The most important thing is that we caught them (the spies) red-handed while
they were in contact with their agents and established that they were financing
some non-governmental organisations".

The UK Foreign Office's reaction:

Reject "any allegations of improper conduct in our dealing with Russian
NGOs". It said it had openly given financial support to projects implemented by
Russian NGOs in the field of human rights and civil society.

The UK spends about £500,000 on supporting NGO programmes in Russia. "It's
all totally above board. That's what is so surprising about this," said a UK
official.

Tony Blair has refused to comment while President Putin hasnt said anything, yet.

The allegations are interesting indeed. Just as Russia has assumed the G8 presidency (from the UK), it appears ready to go for a full diplomatic row with them.

What could have prompted them to publicly oust this espionage? I am sure they were aware of such activities for a long time. Why didn't they use their diplomatic channels to sound off the Brits?

I think, Russians are trying to make a point here. They are telling not just the Brits but also the entire western world to keep away from trying to democratise them through their NGOs.

In fact Russia has just passed a law to restrict the activities of its NGOs. The government believes the NGOs are also acting as fronts for foreign intelligence.

The other factor is that Russia is also displeased with the amount of money and support the western world, especially the US, have been dumping into flagging democratic countries that neighbours Russia.

Russia wants to regain its hold on these satellite states which it use to rule with iron fist under the USSR regime.

I think, having made a point here, Russia will not try hard to deport the four British diplomats. But UK will do well in getting them back home.

In the meantime, dont be surprised if Russia reveals more espionage allegations against other nations and the UK revealing and deporting Russion diplomats from London for being involved in activities against the national interest.

Read more:

The cold war is over, but rock in a park suggests the spying game still thrives (via the guardian)
British agents caught red-handed by Russia (via the daily telegraph)

note: the second photo, a reuters pix, shows a man, allegedly a British embassy staff member, kicks the ‘rock’. Later, another man is seen carrying it away.

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