SPY NEWS: 2023 — Week 1

Summary of the espionage-related news stories for the Week 1 (January 1–7) of 2023.

1. German Intelligence Warns of Increased Activity by Russian Spies

On January 2nd A News reported that “the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency on Monday warned of mounting activity by Russian secret services. “Russia’s intelligence interest here in Germany is not only unbroken, but is also increasing as the effects of the war continue,” Thomas Haldenwang, the chief of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, said in an interview with the German news agency dpa. “The current case also shows how real the danger of Russian espionage is,” added Haldenwang, alluding to a suspected double agent at the foreign secret service BND, who was arrested shortly before Christmas. The arrested man is accused of having given secret information to a Russian intelligence service. Haldenwang said he expected Moscow to try to make up for the expulsion of 40 Russian officials deemed persona non grata by Germany. In reaction to the start of the Russian war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, many European states expelled Russian agents, with Germany expelling 40 members of the Russian Embassy in Berlin. “We are making great efforts to prevent further people who may be linked to Russian services from coming here to Germany,” said Haldenwang, adding that the German government has tightened visa rules. He also expected a massive increase in Russian cyberattacks and so-called influence operations, including disinformation campaigns and other methods aimed at influencing public opinion, the outcome of elections, or political decisions in the target country.”

2. Dissident Iranian Author Mehdi Bahman Sentenced to Death for ‘Espionage’

On January 1st WION reported that “the Iran Revolutionary Court in Iran has sentenced the dissident illustrator, and author, to death. Mehdi Bahman was reportedly sentenced on the charge of espionage. The man was arrested on the 12th of October after giving an interview to an Israeli channel.” According to India Today from January 2nd, “Mehdi Bahman, an Iranian author and illustrator who propagated communal harmony and religious co-existence, has been sentenced to death by the country’s regime over ‘espionage’ charges, according to reports. According to news channel Iran International, Mehdi Bahman was arrested on October 12, 2022 after an ‘anti-regime’ interview he gave to an Israeli news channel. The said interview with Israel’s Channel 13 took place in April 2022. In the interview, Mehdi Bahman criticised the regime in Tehran and the imposition of Islamic law in the country, while also calling for normalisation of ties between Israel and Iran. According to Iran International, Mehdi Bahman has worked with dissident Shia cleric Masoumi Tehrani to create artworks containing symbols from various religions. He later gifted these symbols to leaders of the minority Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian, Sunni Islam, Mandaean Sabian, and Baha’i communities in Iran. According to reports, Tehrani was also arrested shortly after Bahman.”

3. Turkey Adds Journalist Can Dündar to Grey List of Wanted

Medya News reported that “the Turkish Interior Ministry added journalist Can Dündar, who was previously sentenced to 27 years and six months in prison on charges of espionage and aiding a terrorist organisation, to the ‘grey’ category of the ‘wanted for terrorism’ list on Friday. Dündar commented on the Interior Ministry’s decision, saying “It’s a medal of honour. I took it, and I put it on my chest,” on his Twitter account. People who provide information that can facilitate the arrest of anyone on the grey list can receive a reward of up to TL500,000 ($26,753). On 29 May 2015, an article entitled “These are the weapons Erdoğan said do not exist” was published in Cumhuriyet daily, where Dündar was working as the editor-in-chief at the time. The article detailed alleged arms shipments that had been made to Syria by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation (MIT). After the article was published, an investigation was launched against Dündar. He was charged with obtaining information about the security of the state, espionage, and propagandising for a terrorist organisation over the case that is publicly known as the “MIT Trucks Case”. On 23 December 2020, Dündar was sentenced to 27 years and six months in prison on charges of political and military espionage and aiding a terrorist organisation. Dündar has been living in exile in Germany since 2016.”

4. United States: Once-Secret Files Reveal New Details of CIA’s Divisive Defector Dispute

The Washington Times reported on January 1st that “once-secret government documents are revealing new, long-hidden details on one of the CIA’s biggest Cold War controversies, involving defecting Soviet intelligence agents and U.S. counterspy programs targeting the Kremlin’s strategic deception operations against the West. Documents made public last month include formerly top-secret interviews with senior CIA counterintelligence officials, including legendary counterspy chief James Jesus Angleton, who was at the center of the bitter, long-running dispute within the agency over the reliability of two top Soviet defectors, Yuri Nosenko and Anatoli Golitsyn. The controversy relates to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the role of Nosenko, a KGB agent who defected shortly after the murder in Dallas. Angleton and his staff believed Nosenko was a false defector dispatched by Moscow to mislead U.S. intelligence regarding Kennedy‘s assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald.”

5. Spy Collection: Covert Surveillance of Russian GRU Officer in Clandestine Meeting in Slovakia

Following 2022’s week 11 story #10, on January 2nd we published this video for archival/historical purposes. As per its description, “this video was released to the press on March 15, 2022. It reportedly shows Russian military intelligence (GRU) Lieutenant Colonel Sergej Solomasov meeting with one of his local assets, Slovak journalist Bohuš Garbár, in a park located in Bratislava, Slovakia. According to local media, this video is from 2021 showing one of the very first clandestine meetings of the two, and it was recorded by Slovakia’s counter-intelligence unit of the Slovak Information Service (SIS). The GRU officer was operating in Slovakia under diplomatic cover, something known in the Russian doctrine as “legal” intelligence officer. His cover story was that he was the Deputy Military Attaché of the Russian Embassy in Bratislava, Slovakia. He was expelled from the country as Persona Non Grata (PNG) and his assets, including Bohuš G., a former vice-rector at a military academy of Slovakia, identified as Colonel Pavel Bučka, and former assistant MP Jozef Mihalčina, were criminally charged for espionage.”

6. Russian, Belarusian Arrested In Poland On Espionage Charges

Following 2022’s week 14 story #43, on January 4th Svoboda reported that “the prosecutor’s office in Warsaw filed charges of espionage against Belarusian and Russian citizens. They are accused of working for the Russian military intelligence GRU. This was reported by the Polish Press Agency with reference to the representative of the prosecutor’s office Alexandra Skrzynyazh. According to her, the defendants worked under the guise of a tourism business. They collected data on the state of the Polish army: including its combat readiness, the functioning of individual units near the border, and actions in repelling the migration crisis. The accused Belarusian, whose name was not disclosed, had previously graduated from the university in Bialystok. It was previously reported about the Russian that he had been living in Poland for 18 years and was doing business before his arrest. The position of the defendants in the report of the prosecutor’s office is not given. No personal information is provided about them. It is known that they were detained in April and have been under arrest ever since. Under the imputed article, they face up to 15 years in prison.”

7. Technical Analysis of USB-based Cyber Espionage Operation Attributed to Russia’s FSB

Cyber security and intelligence firm Mandiant published this technical analysis on January 5th, in relation to cyber espionage activity attributed to an actor dubbed as TURLA, previously associated with Russia’s FSB. As per the analysis, “USB spreading malware continues to be a useful vector to gain initial access into organizations. In this incident, a USB infected with several strains of older malware was inserted at a Ukrainian organization in December 2021. When the system’s user double clicked a malicious link file (LNK) disguised as a folder within the USB drive, a legacy ANDROMEDA sample was automatically installed and began to beacon out.” Wired published a less technical article for this case stating that “the infamous, FSB-connected Turla group took over other hackers’ servers, exploiting their USB drive malware for targeted espionage.”

8. Norwegian-Dutch Spy Nanosatellites Successfully Launched

On January 3rd the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) officially announced that “two Norwegian-Dutch nanosatellites were successfully launched today. “Birkeland” and “Huygens” were placed in orbit around the earth by the company SpaceX. MilSpace2 is a cooperation project between the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Defence Vision 2035 states that space has become a crucial link in the information-driven operations of the armed forces. The defence organisation is very dependent on satellites, for example for navigation and communication systems. This is the second time that the Netherlands Ministry of Defence has launched satellites. It is therefore implementing Defence Vision 2035. The satellites, each of which is not much larger than six one-litre cartons of milk, each measuring approximately 30x20x10 cm, are named after Norwegian physicist Kristian Olaf Birkeland and the Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens. Strategic mutual assistance in research and technology (SMART), military use of space (MilSpace) and cooperation in science and technology are elements of the bilateral agreement between the ministries of defence of the Netherlands and Norway. The project team that is acting on behalf of the two ministries consists of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO).”

9. Latvian VDD Detains Local Citizen for Cooperating with Sanctioned Russian Source

On January 5th the Latvian State Security Service (VDD) announced that “the detention was carried out as part of the criminal proceedings initiated by the VDD in accordance with the first part of Article 84 of the Criminal Law, ie for a possible violation of EU sanctions. The VDD has been following the activities of the detained Latvian citizen for a long time. The person works in one of the information resources of the agency “Rossiya Segodnya” under the control of the Kremlin, which spreads messages in accordance with the interests of the Kremlin, including regularly discrediting Latvia and its allied countries. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this Kremlin propaganda resource has been blocked in EU member states in connection with justifying Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and actions to destabilise the situation in other European countries. The detained Latvian citizen takes a leading position in this information resource, organising and managing content creation. The person lived and worked in Russia for several years, but arrived in Latvia at the end of 2022. VDD draws attention to the fact that it is forbidden to transfer both financial and economic resources to companies subject to sanctions, including doing work for them. The person has been placed under suspect status and detained as a security measure. The investigation in this criminal process continues and the VDD will provide additional information about the progress of the investigation according to the progress of the criminal process.”

10. Podcast: Lessons from Navy SEAL Team 6, NSA Spy, Author Clint Emerson

On January 2nd Damian Porter High Performance Living Coach published this podcast episode. As per its description, “I had the pleasure of sitting down with the now world famous Clint Emerson-Retired 20-year Navy SEAL, who served with the elite DEVGRU and national government agencies. Clint is the only SEAL ever inducted into the International Spy Museum. Operating from the shadows, with an instinct for running towards trouble, his unique skill sets made him the perfect author and teacher for us all to learn from to survive. Author of the numerous books, Escape The Wolf, The RUGGED LIFE, 100 deadly skills: combat edition, The right kind of crazy, 100 Deadly Skills: Survival Edition, and many more (especially if you speak German). Clint and I spoke about his latest project, driving 11,000 miles across the USA in 16 days and filming the top people in the country and the world in Self Defense, Weapons, Combat and Survival.”

11. French Authorities Investigate Woman with Covert IMSI Catcher in Her Car

On January 1st it was reported that “a woman was checked for drugs in Paris, with an IMSI catcher in her car, which the police initially mistook for a bomb. From the french newspaper Le Parisien “The driver tested positive for drugs and was taken into custody. Her vehicle was dropped off at the police station by a tow truck for investigation. The direction of the intelligence were informed because this suspicious box would be a device being used for the collection of electronic information.” Following that, The Atlas News reported that “French authorities were conducting a security checkpoint outside of the Strasbourg Saint-Denis metro station in Paris when they stopped a vehicle for a routine check. Upon inspecting the vehicle, officers discovered a suitcase in the trunk that contained wires and antennas”, and it continues that “the next day, French journalist Amaury Bucco reported on Twitter that police launched an investigation into the incident because “the box contained professional spy equipment.” What was the device? According to the Twitter page Hacker Fantastic, the device was a professional, yet outdated, build to “locate details of equipment and subscribers (IMSI/IMEI) across a large area, a few city blocks at minimum.” IMEI is the International Mobile Subscriber Identity, which is a unique number used to identify a specific user on a cellular network, and IMSI is the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity, which is a unique identifier for cellular and satellite phones. What this means is that the device was intercepting and collecting mobile phone traffic and tracking location data of mobile phone users.”

12. United States: Former GE Power Engineer Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Economic Espionage

Following 2022’s week 13 story #91, the US Department of Justice issued this press release on January 3rd saying that “a New York man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for conspiring to steal General Electric (GE) trade secrets, knowing or intending to benefit the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Xiaoqing Zheng, 59, of Niskayuna, New York, was convicted of conspiracy to commit economic espionage, following a four-week jury trial that ended on March 31, 2022. According to court documents, Zheng was employed at GE Power in Schenectady, New York, as an engineer specializing in turbine sealing technology. He worked at GE from 2008 until the summer of 2018. The trial evidence demonstrated that Zheng and others in China conspired to steal GE’s trade secrets surrounding GE’s ground-based and aviation-based turbine technologies, knowing or intending to benefit the PRC and one or more foreign instrumentalities, including China-based companies and universities that research, develop, and manufacture parts for turbines. “This is a case of textbook economic espionage. Zheng exploited his position of trust, betrayed his employer and conspired with the government of China to steal innovative American technology,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will hold accountable those who threaten our national security by conniving to steal valuable trade secrets on behalf of a foreign power.” “Zheng sought to enrich himself, and benefit the People’s Republic of China, by stealing trade secrets developed and owned by his longtime employer, General Electric,” said U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman for the Northern District of New York. “We will continue to work with the FBI to hold criminals accountable when they seek to illegally exploit American ingenuity.” “American ingenuity is an integral part of the United States economic security — it is what has guided the U.S. to become the global leader, even as China seeks to topple our status,” said Assistant Director Alan E. Kohler Jr. of the FBI Counterintelligence Division. “Xiaoqing Zheng was a Thousand Talents Program member and willingly stole proprietary technology and sent it back to the PRC. Let today’s sentencing serve as a reminder that the FBI remains dedicated in our pursuit of those who collaborate with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and steal American trade secrets.” U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also sentenced Zheng to pay a $7,500 fine and serve one year of post-imprisonment supervised release.”

13. Afghanistan: Abdul Haq Wasiq Struggles to Hold Reins of Bureau Dominated by Haqqanis

Intelligence Online reported on January 6th that “Afghanistan’s fledgling intelligence service, set up by the Taliban when they swept to power in 2021, is struggling to establish itself as it wrestles with internal strife and the country’s volatile security situation, placing its chief Abdul Haq Wasiq in a precarious position.”

14. Podcast: BRCC: Erick Miyares — Former JSOC Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) Operative

On January 2nd the Black Rifle Coffee (BRCC) Podcast published a new episode for a former operative of the highly secretive Intelligence Support Activity (ISA). As per its description, “Erick Miyares is a retired Sergeant Major who spent nearly 30 years in the military. Erick started his distinguished career as a Marine, Marine sniper, then as part of the 7th Special Forces Group. Afterwards, he spent over 20 years in a Tier 1 Special Mission Unit where he operated in multiple theaters and countries. His new mission, upon his departure from the military, is to prevent veteran suicide via a non-profit organization called ‘Military Special Operations Family Collaborative’.”

15. Kremlin’s Honeytrap Spies Operate in the West, a Glamorous KGB Spy Claims

According to Insight News from January 1st, “Russian agents are dispersed throughout the US, and the entire West, according to Aliia Roza, a former member of the Russian intelligence services. A former honeytrap in the US, she now teaches Beverly Hills students top-secret Soviet seduction tactics. There are hundreds more agents with the same training currently working in the UK, according to former KGB agent Aliia Roza, who made headlines for claiming that her training in honeytraps gave her the ability to make any man fall in love with her. In an interview with the Daily Star, she stated that. Additionally, she notes that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has gained the confidence of the whole Russian population by employing some of the same psychological trickery. According to Aliia, Putin has cultivated a well-honed persona that has caused the entire Russian population to swoon over him. According to Aliia, “agents can occasionally reside in other nations, such as America or England, and they’re just like a basic average family.” She claims that the Russian government thinks it’s crucial to understand what people in Europe, the United States, and the United Kingdom are thinking.”

16. Ukrainian SBU Detained Russian Agent in Lviv Region

On January 2nd Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced that they “detained a Russian agent in the Lviv region who was collecting intelligence for the occupiers. He turned out to be a resident of Donetsk region, who after the start of a full-scale invasion passed information to a representative of a terrorist organisation. Since the beginning of the war, he has been collecting intelligence on the locations and movements of units of the Defence Forces of Ukraine in the Lyman direction. Later, the traitor moved to Lviv Oblast, where he continued his intelligence and subversive activities. Under the guise of an internally displaced person, he settled near one of the energy facilities. The man continued to collect information for the enemy intelligence services. However, SBU employees exposed an enemy accomplice in attempts to covertly collect and transmit information through a “link” in the ranks of the DNR terrorist group. During the operational measures, a mobile phone with correspondence with the enemy was found in the attacker’s possession. On the basis of the collected evidence, the investigators of the Security Service informed him of the suspicion of the committed crime. The court chose him as a preventive measure in the form of detention without bail.”

17. Cyprus: Ayios Nikolaos: Monitoring the Mediterranean

Grey Dynamics published this article on January 2nd saying that “surveillance in the 20th century underwent drastic changes in response to technological advances. Specific geographic locations were required to maximize the intelligence gathered by national agencies. Some of these posts gathered immense fame: The Berlin Tunnel, Teufelsberg, and RAF Menwith Hill. Other stations remain less renowned. The Ayios Nikolaos listening post in Cyprus is one of these latter stations and is the subject of this article. Ayios Nikolaos is an outpost for collecting signals and electronic intelligence (SIGINT and ELINT). As such, the primary operator is Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ), the premier British signals intelligence agency.”

18. Former Hezbollah Member Spied for Israel after Mossad Blackmail

On January 4th The Jerusalem Post reported that “a former member of Hezbollah was arrested in September in Lebanon on suspicion of spying for the Mossad, and was blackmailed into doing so on threat of the release of videos showing him engaged in sexual relations, the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday. According to the report, in June 2021, the former Hezbollah member, identified as Mohsen S., met a woman who said she was Belgian at a cafe in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The next day, they met at her house and had sex. A few days later, the woman disappeared and would not answer his calls. A week after the woman disappeared, Mohsen received a video clip on his phone showing him in intimate situations with the woman. Mohsen responded by sending question marks and received no answer except for a message reading “Rejoice, sweetheart.” A short time afterward, he received a call from the number, with a man telling him that he was “a friend who wanted help” and that he was from the Mossad. After hearing the word Mossad, Mohsen hung up and blocked the number, but the man contacted him from another number, warning him that he would send the video clip to his friends and family, according to Al-Akhbar. Mohsen called his friends and family to check whether they had been sent the video and confirmed that they had not. A few days later, Mohsen received a phone call from the same person and offered to call him over Skype to verify his identity. Mohsen told investigators that in the Skype call, he saw a man in his 50s sitting at a desk with an Israeli flag behind him, along with two other people, including one in an IDF uniform. The former Hezbollah member told the alleged Mossad agent that he would do whatever he wanted if the video wasn’t published.”

19. Documentary: Why Berlin is still the Spy Capital

On January 4th DW published a short documentary film with its description saying that “Berlin is the scene of countless agent stories. Just before Christmas 2022, a scandal rocked the German Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst). An employee allegedly spied for Russian secret services and reported directly to Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s network of agents is considered the strongest weapon against the West. Berlin has been already the scene of countless spy stories, real and fictional, from the Cold War to today. Its history as a spy-craft hotspot began after World War 2. The Allies ended Nazi rule and divided the capital into four sectors. Nowhere else did the superpowers of West and East meet as closely as in the divided city, making it a perfect place for spies. Whether they were working for the Russian KGB, the American NSA and CIA, the British MI6 or the East German “Stasi”, the respective agents lived secret lives with fake identities, spying on the other side. The island of West Berlin, surrounded by the socialist East Germany, also inspired countless thrillers, be it Steven Spielberg’s “Bridge of Spies”, the James Bond film “Octopussy” or “The Bourne Conspiracy”. Berlin is simply a must for top-class spooks! On this episode of Arts Unveiled, we explore the covert side of Berlin in search of espionage locations: Checkpoint Charlie, the Friedrichstraße train station, the Teufelsberg and the Glienicker Bridge. Along the way, we meet ex-agents with unbelievable stories, such as Mr. and Mrs. Schevitz. For years, the American couple lived in West Berlin as top spies for East Germany. Their highly explosive goal: to spy on the German chancellor. We learn how famous double agent George Blake sabotaged secret projects like the tunnel construction of “Operation Gold”. And we show why Berlin remains a hotbed of espionage: in recent years, for example, NSA wiretapping scandals and a contract killing attributed to people with ties to the old KGB have made headlines. It seems Berlin is still a popular playing field for intelligence agencies.”

20. ChapsVision and Cy4gate Continue to Consolidate Europe’s Cyber Intelligence Sector

Intelligence Online reported on January 5th that “by buying up smaller companies, ChapsVision and Cy4gate are each looking to build up a dominant position in the European cyber intelligence business.”

21. French Ex-Top Spy Reportedly Indicted for Complicity in Attempted Extortion

Politico reported on January 5th that “Bernard Bajolet, the former general director of France’s foreign intelligence service, was indicted last October for his role in a €15 million extortion attempt against a Franco-Swiss businessman, according to French wire AFP, confirming an investigation from Le Monde published on Wednesday. In March 2016, Alain Duménil, a 73-year-old entrepreneur involved in a number of judicial cases, was stopped by the border police before boarding a flight at a Paris airport, and taken to two officers from the DGSE, France’s foreign intelligence agency, Le Monde reported. The agents told the businessman he owed the French state €15 million, and Duménil claimed they threatened him with physical harm and showed him pictures of his family. Bajolet, who was then leading the DGSE, says he authorised the operation, but denies the threat allegations. The interview, he claims, was only conducted to get ahold of Duménil’s lawyers about a judicial case involving the entrepreneur. According to both French outlets, the agency is accusing the businessman of stealing €15 million from secret DGSE funds, through a complex financial operation, in the early 2000s. Since the end of World War I, the DGSE has been managing a secret war chest initially funded by the French state that has reportedly run into some difficulties over the past two decades following poor investments. Bajolet was indicted by a French judge in October 2022 for complicity in attempting extortion, and for “arbitrary infringement of personal liberty by a person holding public authority over the same case,” according to Le Monde and AFP.”

22. Presentation: Technical Analysis of New North Korean Cyber Espionage Capabilities

On January 4th cyber security and intelligence firm Sentinel Labs published this article stating that “InkySquid (aka Group123, APT37) is an infamous threat actor linked to North Korea that has been active for at least 10 years. This actor is known to use social engineering in order to breach targets and exploit n-day vulnerabilities in Hangul Word Processor (HWP), as well as browser-based technologies. One of the most documented intrusion sets used by this actor is RoKRAT, a Windows RAT using cloud providers as C2 servers. In this presentation, Paul Rascagneres discusses a macOS port of RoKRAT. Paul describes the internal mechanisms and different espionage features of the malware, as well as built-in attempts to bypass macOS security features and embedded exploit code based on n-day exploits.”

23. French Senator Demands “Security Secret” is Lifted on Paris Assassination of Three Kurdish Women in 2013

On January 3rd the Medya News reported that “Lauren Cohen, the French Senator is fighting the “security secret” imposed by the French government on the 2013 assassinations of three Kurdish women in Paris. “French Senator Laurence Cohen said that Kurds were targeted for the second time in recent shootings in Paris because the French government have not lifted the “security secret” over the Paris assassinations of three Kurdish women in 2013. Speaking to Medya Haber, the Senator said the fatal shooting that took place on 23 December at the Ahmet Kaya Kurdish Cultural Centre in Paris could have been prevented had authorities allowed transparency over the 2013 case, that also targeted the Kurdish community. On 9 January 2013 Sakine Cansız, Leyla Şaylemez and Fidan Doğan were assassinated by a Turkish intelligence-affiliate. The assassin shot dead the three Kurdish women, Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) founding member Cansız and activists Şaylemez and Doğan, in Paris. Their assassinations still remain unsolved and the gunman died in prison in 2016 before his trial began. “The security secret in the file has serious consequences, so the truth cannot be revealed. It is a great scandal that certain groups are protected. I am one of those who are fighting for the lifting of this security secret. Turkish National Intelligence Service’s (MİT) responsibility must be recognised and those truly responsible must be punished,” said Cohen. “If the French government had lifted the security secret, perhaps this painful incident would not have happened,” she added. Evin Goyi, Mir Perwer and Abdurrahman Kızıl, all Kurdish, were killed in the recent attack. Cohen explained that Kurdish women in particular are at the forefront of the Kurdish struggle, and went on to say, “I believe that this is a terror attack. It must be investigated.” The Senator called for support on the 3 January at a farewell ceremony as the bodies of the victims of the 23 December attack leave Paris for Kurdistan, and to join a march on 7 January in Paris, held to demand protection of the Kurdish people.”

24. The Spy Agency Origins of NASA’s Next Powerful Planet-Hunting Observatory

Popular Science published this article on January 2nd saying that “a former spy satellite is now being overhauled by NASA to search for planets beyond the solar system. Once operational — the space agency plans to launch the craft within the next five years — it could reveal the origins of life itself by hunting for planets in the distant reaches of their solar systems. Now that the James Webb Space Telescope has finally launched and is in full science operation mode, the astronomical community is looking with eager anticipation to the next major launch, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Among other directives, the Roman will be an exoplanet hunter extraordinaire, revealing key information about the formation of solar systems and planets like our own. But, initially, it looked like the mission would never happen. In the early 2000s, scientists at NASA and the Department of Energy both proposed a new satellite to study the farthest reaches of the cosmos, hoping to understand the cause behind dark energy, the name given to the mysterious accelerated expansion of the universe. However, with political and financial capital shifting to the development of what would become the JWST, the proposal faltered. And then in 2011 came an unexpected gift. The National Reconnaissance Office, the organization within the US government tasked with building and operating spy satellites for the NSA, CIA, and other three-letter agencies, apparently had some…extras. Sitting in a warehouse in upstate New York were two mirrors, similar to the one on the Hubble Space Telescope, that the NRO seemingly had no use for. The agency offered the mirrors to NASA free of charge.”

25. Video: Top 10 Unbelievable Things the CIA Has Actually Done

On January 3rd Watch Mojo published this video saying that “you won’t believe what the CIA has been up to. For this list, we’ll be going over the most outlandish plans and real operations and projects planned by the American Central Intelligence Agency. Our countdown includes Gateway Experience, Attacking Castro’s Beard, Operation Gold, and more! If there’s a surprisingly real CIA story that didn’t make our list, infiltrate our comments section to reveal your favorites.” The items discussed are: 1) Project MKULTRA, 2) Operation NORTHWOODS, 3) Iranian embassy rescue operation, 4) Operation GOLD in East Germany, 5) The stargate project, 6) Attacking Fidel Castro’s beard, 7) Acoustic kitty, 8) “Devil eyes” toys psychological operation, 9) Porn films to target Indonesia, and 10) The gateway experiment.

26. Ukrainian SBU Detained Belarusian Agent in Chernihiv

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced on January 4th that they “exposed a traitor who worked for the intelligence services of Belarus. He turned out to be a resident of Chernihiv Oblast, who organised a channel for illegally transporting Ukrainian citizens of military age abroad. SBU employees detained the perpetrator as a result of a special operation at the end of 2022. During the pre-trial investigation, new facts of the detainee’s criminal activities were revealed. First of all, it was established that he carried out reconnaissance and subversive activities in the region for the benefit of the intelligence services of Belarus. It was for them that the attacker collected intelligence about the deployment and movement of units of the Defence Forces in the region. He paid special attention to the places of residence of the command staff of the Ukrainian troops. He tried to convey the information he received to the Russian Federation through one of the evaders, whom he was going to smuggle across the border outside the checkpoints.”

27. Palestinians Accuse Israel of Spying Using Cattle

On January 6th i24 News TV reported that “according to “Palestinians Media Watch”, quoting the official Palestinian Authority daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, it said that “Israel secretly trained cattle to spy on the Palestinians”. “On the neck of every cow, they hang a tag with a listening device, a recording device, and sometimes cameras to monitor every detail,” one of the Palestinian villagers, Rushd Marar, reportedly told the paper.”

28. Another Full Day for NATO Spy Planes Flying Over Romania

On January 6th Romanian newspaper Adevărul reported that that “Friday was a busy day in the sky of Romania, especially in the area of ​​Dobrogea, where NATO-equipped surveillance planes kept an eye on the movements of the Russians in Ukraine. We are talking about a US Navy Lockheed EP-3E Aries II plane which, taking off from Crete, flew under the code QY84, at over 8,000 meters, in a loop, in the Brăila, Tulcea, Mila 23 and Sulina area, but also above the territorial waters of Romania from Mamaia to Sfântu Gheorghe. The Lockheed EP-3E Aries II with serial number 159893 is an electronic surveillance aircraft that has an hourly operating cost of over $35,000. It has a multitude of ELINT (Electronic Intelligence), SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and COMINT (Communications Intelligence) sensors. Then, in the area of ​​Dobrogea, at 11,000 meters, under the designation RRR7206, also flew an RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft of the Royal Air Force, which is a reconnaissance device built by Boeing and which, in turn, has an hourly cost of exploitation of more than 30,000 dollars. The plane took off from Great Britain and initially arrived over Romania where it began to evolve in loops between Constanța, Brăila and Bacău. Then, accompanied by two Eurofighter Typhoon FGR 4 fighter jets (one with the designation PSYCHO61 and PSYCHO62) of the Royal Air Force, the surveillance aircraft went out on patrol over the Black Sea. There was also a more unusual aircraft on patrol over the border with Ukraine. Specifically, a Bombardier CL-600–2B16 Challenger 650 aircraft took off from the Mihail Kogălniceanu Base, which at first glance looks like a plane for businessmen. In reality, the aircraft named ARTEMIS is riddled with sensors and computers to intercept and decipher enemy communications from hundreds of kilometers away. The plane belongs to a private company and although there is no military on board, Pentagon experts are connected to its sensors via satellite, and the data is exploited in real time. Basically, the military pays the holding company for this service at an hourly rate.”

29. MSNBC: The Secrets Behind One of the Most Damaging Spies in U.S. History

Following last week’s story #63, on January 2nd MSNBC published this 8-minute long video about Cuban agent Ana Montes, with its description saying: “author Jim Popkin joins Morning Joe to discuss ‘Code Name Blue Wren,’ about Ana Montes, one of the most damaging spies in U.S. history.”

30. United States: CIA’s Directorate of Operations Feels Left Out

According to Intelligence Online from January 2nd, “reform at the CIA is not going all that well, particularly at the Directorate of Operations, feeling left out as the White House seems more interested in analytical intelligence.”

31. Expect More Strikes ‘Deeper and Deeper’ into Russia, Ukraine’s Spy Chief Says

Following 2022 week 51 story #89, on January 4th ABC News published an interview with Kyrylo Budanov, Director of Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR), discussing covert operations inside Russian territory.

32. Greece: Former Director of EYP in Court for Sexual Harassment

According to the Greek “To Manifesto” from January 6th, “a lawsuit that will be heard on February 17 brings the former Director of the EYP under SYRIZA administration, Yiannis Roubatis, to the position of the accused. And it is not the one that Stergios Piciorlas has testified about the surveillance at his expense and with the knowledge of Alexis Tsipras. This lawsuit has another object. It concerns a complaint about sexual harassment and comes from a woman, an EYP officer, from the field officers of the Service characterised as “active”. That is, from operational officers, not in the headquarters. She was, according to information, one of the most “active” with a term in the Greek embassy in Turkey as well as various missions, especially since she also learned the Turkish language, based on the same sources. Until she found herself in a “freezer” position moving from northern Greece facing a series of accusations from the Service with her reacting by denying these accusations which finally led, based on the evidence that exists, to the deprivation of part of her wages, although what she saw touched the limits of treason. In addition to her initial and legal reaction, the EYP officer proceeded with another complaint, filing a lawsuit against Yannis Roubatis for sexual harassment, even claiming that the fact that she found herself losing her position and being in a headquarters office is due to to the fact that she did not give in to the pressures she repeatedly received from the EYP Director. The descriptions in the lawsuit she has filed and will be heard next month, demonstrate that. Includes the gifts and their type, the four meetings that the former Director sought in the form of official collaborations and others.”

33. Taiwan Holds Military Officers Suspected of Spying for China

On January 5th Bloomberg reported that “Taiwan detained three active-duty officers and a retired Air Force officer suspected of spying for China, the Central News Agency in Taipei reported, a case that hints at the extent of Beijing’s snooping on its much smaller neighbor. The former officer left the military in 2013 and started doing business in China, where he was recruited to build an espionage ring, the semi-official media outlet said, without saying where it got the information. Prosecutors suspect he recruited six officers and was paid between NT$200,000 ($6,510) and NT$700,000 via a shell company, CNA reported late Wednesday. He and three officers serving in the Air Force and Navy were detained in the southern city of Kaohsiung, and three other active officers were freed on bail. Taiwan has struggled to weed out espionage within its armed forces by China, which has vastly more resources. The US — Taiwan’s biggest military backer — has long been worried about the self-ruled island’s ability to keep tech and other secrets out of Beijing’s hands. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in November that China’s spying posed a “serious threat.” Those comments came as authorities launched an investigation into an infantry officer for allegedly taking NT$40,000 a month from China to gather intelligence and surrender if a war ever erupted, CNA earlier reported.”

34. Ukrainian SBU Detained Russian FSB Agent in Lviv Region

On January 5th Ukraine’s SBU announced that they “detained a Russian agent in the Lviv region who was directing enemy missiles at strategic enterprises of Ukraine. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he was recruited by the Russian intelligence service to carry out intelligence and subversive activities against our state. At first, on the instructions of the enemy, the traitor collected information about the location of strategic objects in the southeastern regions of Ukraine. In addition, he offered the representatives of the aggressor country his help in developing the latest radar installation based on information about the Ukrainian radar. Also, under the guise of a “business trip”, the agent traveled to Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia to identify energy and railway infrastructure facilities on which the enemy carried out missile strikes. On the spot, he was supposed to inspect their technical condition, the level of possible damage and prepare a corresponding “report” for the FSB. His next “trip” was to Lviv Oblast, where he tried to establish the location of critical infrastructure facilities. The received information was to be sent to the enemy in the form of electronic coordinates and photographic material with reference to the area. Intelligence was needed by the enemy to prepare and carry out a series of targeted missile strikes on the territory of the region. However, SBU counter-intelligence agents promptly exposed the Russian agent, gradually documented his criminal actions and detained him while trying to pass classified information to the aggressor. During the search, a mobile phone with evidence of correspondence with the enemy and symbols of the communist totalitarian regime was found in the detainee’s possession.”

35. Documentary: Cold War Espionage: The Secret War Between The CIA And KGB

On January 6th the War Stories published this new documentary with its description saying that “untold stories behind the headlines in the unseen Cold War battles between Western intelligence agencies and the KGB. Features exclusive interviews and new revelations about the KGB’s missions and tactics.”

36. Iran’s Judiciary Indicts Two French Nationals and Belgian for Espionage

On January 3rd Reuters reported that “Iran has indicted two French nationals and a Belgian for espionage and working against the country’s national security, the semi-official Student News Network quoted a judiciary spokesperson as saying on Tuesday. The agency did not give the names of the three or say where or when they were indicted. Belgium’s justice minister said last month Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele had been sentenced to 28 years in prison in Iran for what he called a “fabricated series of crimes”. Iranian media aired a video in October in which two French citizens appeared to confess to spying, amid recent unrest that Tehran has blamed on foreign foes. The video sparked outrage in France, which said the detainees were “state hostages”. A total of seven French citizens are being held in Iran, France’s foreign minister said in November, a further sign of deteriorating relations between the two countries. The Islamic Republic has accused foreign adversaries of fomenting a wave of unrest which erupted in Iran three months ago after the death in detention of 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by morality police enforcing the Islamic Republic’s mandatory dress code laws. The protests mark one of the boldest challenges to the country’s leadership since its 1979 Islamic Revolution and have drawn in Iranians from all walks of life.”

37. Turkey’s Media Mogul Built His Wealth on the Murder of a Greek Businessman and the Victim’s Plundered Assets

The Nordic Monitor published this article on January 5th stating that “Yıldırım Demirören, son of the late businessman Erdoğan Demirören and a close associate of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has built his wealth on the unlawfully seized assets of a businessman from the minority Greek (Rum) community who was brutally murdered in Turkey.” And also stating that “given the fact that the murder was covered up with the involvement of police, the intelligence agency, politicians and other high-ranking officials, nobody dared open Pandora’s box” as well as that “Inayet was discreetly told by an agent of Turkish intelligence agency MIT the details of the murder and how Demirören was personally involved in choking the businessman to death. The agent, a long-time friend of Inayet, told her that documents about the murder were kept in the archives of the Istanbul Governor’s Office. With this information, Inayet filed a complaint with the police and asked them to interrogate Demirören and his murder accomplice. But a then-police chief, Ahmet Atesli, who headed the homicide unit, threatened her with detention, saying she should not be stirring up trouble around an old case that he described as simply the death of an “infidel” long ago.”

38. Spyware Scandals in Europe Are ‘Much Worse than Watergate’

EU Observer reported on January 2nd that “electronic spying on citizens isn’t the preserve of autocratic states alone. Journalists and politicians are also being spied on by several European governments, including Spain, Greece, Hungary and Poland, according to Sophie in ‘t Veld MEP, rapporteur of the European Parliament’s PEGA-committee. “The European Commission is very strict regarding threats to democracy elsewhere in the world, but when it comes to its members, it prefers to remain quiet,” says the Dutch MEP, who is parliament’s lead investigator on the use of spyware in Europe. The illicit use of spyware in Europe is comparable to the Watergate scandal, the wiretapping case which led to the resignation of US president Richard Nixon in 1974, “but much, much worse”, she said in an interview with EUobserver magazine. “It’s not a matter of a few isolated incidents where some governments have crossed the line. It’s a widespread system that centres around Europe.” Not all member states use spyware illicitly, but “all member states have spyware at their disposal, whether they admit it or not,” in ‘t Veld warns. Governments operate alongside “an impenetrable maze of persons, locations, connections, ownership structures, letterbox companies, ever-changing corporate names” and purchase spyware, often through middlemen, “from criminals or quasi-criminals,” she adds. Israeli spyware companies dominate the sector and have spread their operations across Europe, taking advantage of lax export enforcement, and favourable tax arrangements, in Ireland and other countries. In ‘t Veld’s report, presented in November and to be finalised next year, points to the Polish government’s use of material extracted from telephones for smear campaigns against journalists. The Hungarian government used spyware on at least 300 telephones belonging to NGOs and individuals connected to American-Hungarian businessman George Soros. Top-level politicians in Greece have used spyware to cover up corruption, and the Spanish government has used spyware on 65 Catalans, supposedly in connection with the independence movement.”

39. Documentary: Philby’s Choice — Britain’s Intelligence Service

On January 1st, Only Facts published this documentary. As per its description, “Kim Philby worked for Britain’s Intelligence Service. He received decorations from Spain’s dictator Francisco Franco and Queen Elizabeth. But the whole time he was Moscow’s spy in London leading a cell of Soviet spies. Many sought to unravel the Kim Philby enigma during his lifetime and, a quarter of a century after his death, it’s still a subject of continuing debate.”

40. German Intelligence Rocked By Russian Espionage Scandal

Following 2022 week 51 story #31 and 2022 week 52 story #4 and story #32, on January 4th Spiegel International reported that “on December 21, officers of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) arrested Carsten L., the head of a BND unit, in Berlin. German Federal Prosecutor Peter Frank has accused him of providing Russia with classified intelligence information. Two months after that October session in parliament, Kahl was forced to admit on the Thursday before Christmas Eve that there was “a possible case of treason” within his own ranks. “Restraint and discretion” are “very important in this particular case,” Kahl said, adding that any details that become public would benefit Russia. But what could be more useful to Moscow than a source right at the heart of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, with access to a whole trove of secret documents? It appears that the worst espionage case in years may currently be brewing in Germany. And it is hitting the very agency that didn’t exactly shine with its foresight in the run-up to the Russian attack on Ukraine, long dismissing warnings from the United States and British intelligence services about the impending war.” The article also notes that “the case of Carsten L., even if BND head Kahl has tried to present it as such, cannot be cited as evidence of increased efforts by the German intelligence services. Shortly before Christmas, Kahl said the service had learned about the case “in the course of its intelligence work.” It sounded as though the agency had discovered the suspected traitor within its ranks on its own. But that’s not what happened. L.’s undoing was that another Western intelligence service discovered a data set in the Russian apparatus that was clearly attributable to the BND. The data included findings about Russia. It’s possible that it also contained information on the BND’s methods and sources. The data reportedly included findings from telecommunications surveillance that may have just been photographed from a screen. It was only after the warning that the BND succeeded in identifying Carsten L. as the suspected mole. The agency spent weeks observing him. In the process, another person working for the BND also came into the investigators’ sights. The federal prosecutor has listed the second person as a defendant in the proceedings. She is also alleged to have opened documents on her work computer that are relevant to the investigation. However, insiders report that it is now considered unlikely that the person in question worked for the Russians. They say it is more likely that Carsten L. had tried to divert suspicion from himself through her.”

41. Greek EYP Plans Arrest of Journalist’s Assassins to Boost Administration’s Image Ahead of Elections

According to the Greek Edolio5 reporter, “with a prophetic report on the administration’s attempt to find an electoral lifeline by striking organised crime, edolio5 had already informed you. As we learned from a meeting that took place a few days ago with reference point a report compiled by officers of the homicide department, it was reported that 2 persons who had an active role in the assassination of the journalist, Giorgos Karaivaz, have been identified. These 2 persons had been detained in the past as suspects for the murder of a well-known “godfather” but their participation in it was not proven. “This report looks more like a writing of ideas than tangible evidence pointing to the perpetrators,” a Greek police officer who knows the details of this case told edolio5. However, as we learned, a report was attached to this case given by a “handler” of the EYP, 2 informants of organised crime with deep knowledge of organised crime activities. The report mentioned the 2 names of the people who shot journalist Karaivaz. One is a bodyguard of a shipowner (not particularly well-known), and the other, who was driving the motorcycle, is an associate of a well-known singer. It is obvious that this information can be a clearinghouse between organised crime groups. But what gives “something more” in this case regarding the reference of the 2 names is that the “handler” of the EYP who became aware of the information, has special experience, and in the intelligence report he has drawn up, he cites a series of facts. It should be noted that the bodyguard’s brother is an active duty police officer and serves in a very sensitive service of the Hellenic Police which has (reactively) dealt with the case of this murder. The report also mentions the process of the motorcycle’s disappearance, which was partly verified. The cause of the murder is also mentioned, but it is more an exposition of ideas than tangible facts. The essence of the cause “rests” on the contacts the journalist had with a member of organised crime as a partner. As we also learn about all the information, the leadership of the Ministry of Civil Protection has been informed, and the direction they were given is that the arrests should be made when the button is pressed for the start of the pre-election period in order to have the corresponding political benefits.”

42. Russian Intelligence Has Eyes and Ears on Military Research

On January 2nd Intelligence Online reported that “military research institutes are key players in the war in Ukraine and an integral part of the Kremlin’s strategy to establish an entirely local manufacturing chain. Intelligence services are all the more vigilant about potential R&D-related leaks.”

43. Latvian Authorities Arrest Editor Of Russia’s Sputnik State News Agency

On January 5th RFE/RL reported that “Latvian authorities have arrested the editor in chief of Russia’s Sputnik state news agency in Lithuania, Marat Kasem, on a charge of violating sanctions imposed on Russia. Sputnik says a court in Riga issued a warrant for Kasem’s arrest on January 5. According to Sputnik, Kasem traveled to Latvia from Vilnius due to family issues and may be charged with espionage, which has not been confirmed by any other source. The European Union banned operations of Sputnik and its umbrella company RT in March over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

44. Podcast: Janes World of Intelligence: Mis/Disinformation in Open Source Intelligence

On January 4th Jane’s World of Intelligence published a new podcast episode. As per its description, “in this episode we explore the impact of mis or disinformation in open source intelligence with Di Cooke CSIS International Security Program Visiting Fellow and KCL War Studies Doctoral Candidate.”

45. Crypto Museum: Many New Crypto AG House Magazines Added

This week the Netherlands-based Crypto Museum added many issues of the Crypto AG House magazines to its online archive. Crypto AG was a Swiss company covertly operated by United States CIA and German BND until 2018.

46. Cyber Espionage Operation Targeting Military, Financial and Other Industries in Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam

On January 6th the Chinese Cybersecurity Research Centre published this technical analysis for a previously unknown cyber espionage actor they dubbed as SAAIWC. As per the report, “in November 2022, the Anheng Threat Intelligence Lab continued to track attacks targeting Southeast Asia. The activities were suspected to be targeting military and financial departments in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The attack mainly uses an ISO file as the initial malicious payload. After execution, the Powershell command is added to the local registry, and finally the Powershell backdoor PowerDism is loaded to steal information and execute arbitrary commands. According to the mutex name in the sample, we named the actor: Saaiwc Group, internal number: APT-LY-1005.”

47. Anatomy of an OPSEC Failure: How GRU’s 10th Spetsnaz Brigade was Discovered in Kherson Oblast

On January 2nd PhD student Rob Lee published this Twitter thread explaining how photos posted in Russian social media by a volunteer led to the targeting of GRU’s 10th Spetsnaz Brigade in Sahy, Kherson Oblast.

48. About the Legality of the NSA’s Testing and SIGINT Development Projects

On January 5th ElectroSpaces published this article with its introduction stating that “on November 1, 2022, Bloomberg published a remarkable story about an NSA analyst who in 2013 developed and tested a new collection method that resulted in the unauthorized collection of American telephone data. Here I will provide some additional details about what that method could have been about and will also look whether these so-called SIGINT Development (SIGDEV) projects are actually legal under American law.”

49. Former UN Envoy to Yemen Linked to MI6, a Party to the War

Declassified UK published this article on January 5th saying that “Martin Griffiths, a Briton who now runs the United Nations’ humanitarian work, co-founded and advises a private conflict resolution company that “works closely” with MI6. He was until recently the UN special envoy to Yemen.” The highlights of the article are: 1) The company, Inter Mediate, was founded by Griffiths and Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair’s former chief of staff who is the company’s chief executive. 2) Leading ex-MI6 officer was a founding director of Inter Mediate, which involves senior former UK military and diplomatic figures. 3) Foreign Office has given over £4m to Inter Mediate and launched “campaign” to secure Griffiths’ appointment to his UN special envoy role. 4) Griffiths has said “diplomatic work, information gathering or intelligence work is all about empathy at its core”. And 5) UK special forces, which operate with MI6, have been involved in the Yemen war.

50. Documentary: How ISI is Controlling Pakistan? Is it the Best Intelligence Agency in World?

On January 2nd Think Station published this short documentary about Pakistan’s ISI. As per its description, “what is the role of ISI in pakistan politics? The Inter-Services Intelligence is the premier intelligence agency of Pakistan. It is the first SPY agency in the sub-continent. ISI is the Pakistan’s Secret Rulers . according to American Crime News, is the preeminent and one of the most powerful agency in the world. The intelligence service of any country are assigned with some of the toughest tasks . Which Are the Best Spy Agencies in the World? In today’s video we will discuss about the history and role of ISI in pakistan.”

51. Public Intelligence: DHS-FBI-NCTC Bulletin: Wide-Ranging Domestic Violent Extremist Threat to Persist

On January 1st Public Intelligence released this document. It was originally from June 17, 2022 by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Counterterrorism Centre. As per its summary, “the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) assess that domestic violent extremists (DVEs)a fueled by various evolving ideological and sociopolitical grievances pose a sustained threat of violence to the American public, democratic institutions, and government and law enforcement officials. Flashpoint events in the coming months may exacerbate these perceived grievances, further increasing the potential for DVE violence. DVEs adhering to different violent extremist ideologies have coalesced around anger at issues including perceived election fraud, as well as immigration and government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing on their varied perceptions of those issues. These factors, along with fluid conspiracy theories, have amplified longstanding DVE grievances, including perceptions of government and law enforcement overreach or oppression and shifts in US demographics and cultural values.”

52. United States: CIA Launches New Hiring Portal to Connect with Candidates

Clearance Jobs published this article on January 5th saying that “the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) just announced a new hiring portal, called MyLINK. The portal is a web-based system that candidates can access on the CIA website. The goal is to modernize and streamline the hiring process for the Agency. Additionally, it helps the CIA connect with the right U.S. citizens to recruit them to join their foreign intelligence mission.” Here is the official CIA announcement.

53. Podcast: SpyScape: Tradecraft Secrets

On January 3rd SpyScape’s True Spies series published a new episode. As per its description, “the tools in a spy’s arsenal are more varied than you might think. But they all come under one name: Tradecraft. In our sixth round of insights from the world of espionage, Sophia Di Martino learns how to spy in a warzone, meets undercover journalists in Putin’s Russia and investigates a CIA mole in our annual digest of the series so far.”

54. Detained for Espionage in Russia: A Ukrainian Woman Returns from Russian Captivity

On January 4th the Ukrainian UNN reported that “the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights Dmitry Lubinets said in his Telegram channel that on the eve of the holidays, another Ukrainian family was reunited. A woman with her son was in Russian captivity for more than a year, reports UNN. Quote: “In October, the applicant approached me with a request to help him release his wife and young son from captivity, in which they had been held for almost a year. The applicant’s pregnant wife was detained back in May 2021 by representatives of the so-called “DPR Ministry of State Security” while crossing the border with Russia. Later, the woman was accused of “spying for Ukraine” and sentenced to 10 years. Due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation, a newborn child was deprived of his father’s care for almost a year, and at the same time, the woman’s eldest 8-year-old son was on the territory of Ukraine with his father,” Lubinets wrote.”

55. Pakistani Militants Claim Killing of Two Intelligence Officials

On January 4th Reuters reported that “Islamist militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban on Wednesday claimed the killing of a senior official of Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency and another officer, the latest in a resurgence of jihadist violence shaking the country. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers were shot dead outside a hotel in Punjab province on Tuesday, police said. The TTP, an umbrella group of militants that associates itself with Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban, ended a months-old ceasefire with the Pakistani government last year and launched a spate of attacks across the country. “Yesterday, a secret squad of TTP killed ISI Deputy Director Multan Naveed Sadiq along with his colleague Inspector Nasir Butt at Bismillah Highway in Khanewal District of Punjab,” TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani said in a statement to media. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), in a statement on Wednesday, confirmed the killings but not the TTP’s role. It said the two officers had met the suspected killer at the hotel and had a cup of tea with him. After tea, the suspect shot the two officers in the hotel parking lot and fled on a motorcycle, the CTD added, releasing security camera footage of the incident. The incident occurred a day after Pakistan’s top civilian and military leaders pledged to use “full force” to deal with militants. In recent weeks TTP attacks have included a suicide bombing in the capital Islamabad that failed to hit its target.”

56. Turkish Intelligence Takes Out MLKP’s So-Called Syrian Chief

On January 6th the Daily Sabah reported that “Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has eliminated the so-called leader of the Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP) terrorist organization in an operation in northern Syria’s al-Hasakah region, the agency announced early Friday. Zeki Gürbüz, who went by the code-name “Ahmet Şoreş” as the so-called chief of the MLKP’s Syrian branch, was killed in a pinpoint operation following intense field monitoring by MIT agents in the region, the agency informed. Gürbüz had been a top name in the list of terrorists wanted by Türkiye for his role as the instigator and orchestrator of a series of rocket attacks on Turkish troops on the border with Syria on Aug. 16, 2022. He was also the mastermind behind the bomb attack on a vehicle carrying prison guards in the Mudanya district of northwestern Bursa province on April 20, 2022. One of the prison guards, Cengiz Yiğit, was killed in the attack, while four other guards were injured. One of the perpetrators of the attack, who was also trained for years in the MLKP’s Syrian camps, was arrested in October 2022 in the Aegean province of Izmir.”

57. Russian Hackers Targeted U.S. Nuclear Scientists

On January 6th Reuters reported that “a Russian hacking team known as Cold River targeted three nuclear research laboratories in the United States this past summer, according to internet records reviewed by Reuters and five cyber security experts. Between August and September, as President Vladimir Putin indicated Russia would be willing to use nuclear weapons to defend its territory, Cold River targeted the Brookhaven (BNL), Argonne (ANL) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL), according to internet records that showed the hackers creating fake login pages for each institution and emailing nuclear scientists in a bid to make them reveal their passwords. Reuters was unable to determine why the labs were targeted or if any attempted intrusion was successful. A BNL spokesperson declined to comment. LLNL did not respond to a request for comment. An ANL spokesperson referred questions to the U.S. Department of Energy, which declined to comment. Cold River has escalated its hacking campaign against Kyiv’s allies since the invasion of Ukraine, according to cybersecurity researchers and western government officials. The digital blitz against the U.S. labs occurred as U.N. experts entered Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory to inspect Europe’s biggest atomic power plant and assess the risk of what both sides said could be a devastating radiation disaster amid heavy shelling nearby. Cold River, which first appeared on the radar of intelligence professionals after targeting Britain’s foreign office in 2016, has been involved in dozens of other high-profile hacking incidents in recent years, according to interviews with nine cybersecurity firms. Reuters traced email accounts used in its hacking operations between 2015 and 2020 to an IT worker in the Russian city of Syktyvkar. “This is one of the most important hacking groups you’ve never heard of,” said Adam Meyers, senior vice president of intelligence at U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. “They are involved in directly supporting Kremlin information operations.” Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the domestic security agency that also conducts espionage campaigns for Moscow, and Russia’s embassy in Washington did not respond to emailed requests for comment.” On January 6th, James Pearson published photos of a member of “Cold River”, 35-year old Andrey Korinets, bodybuilder and IT administration by day, member of “Cold River” by night.

58. New Videos by Former CIA Officer Jason Hanson

This week former United States CIA Officer Jason Hanson published the following videos: 1) Here’s How I Clean my Sig Sauer P365, 2) How to Disassemble and Reassemble a Sig Sauer P365, and 3) Here’s Why All of My Handguns Are 9mm.

59. Japanese Fighters Intercept China’s High-Flying WZ-7 Drone For First Time

On January 2nd The Warzone published this article saying that “Chinese WZ-7 surveillance drones have appeared for two days in a row over the East China Sea, prompting Japanese fighter jets to scramble to intercept them on both occasions. This is the first time that the Japanese authorities have reported intercepts of the WZ-7, one of the most advanced drones in Chinese service, and it could be connected with the recent movements of the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and its supporting task force in the same area. Either way, the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drone, with its unique joined-wing design, may well become a more regular feature of Chinese activities in the wider region, providing capabilities loosely analogous to the RQ-4 Global Hawk.”

60. Podcast: Intelligence Matters: Inside China’s Surveillance State: Liza Lin and Josh Chin

On January 4th CBS News’ Intelligence Matters published a new podcast episode. As per its description, “this week on Intelligence Matters, Michael Morell speaks with Wall Street Journal reporters Liza Lin and Josh Chin about their new book Surveillance State: Inside China’s Quest to Launch a New Era of Social Control. Their new reporting examines how China’s data collection goes beyond that of other countries as China seeks to create a model to export as an alternative to democratic governance. Lin and Chin detail Silicon Valley’s involvement in the buildup of China’s surveillance state and how the technology is used to surveil Uyghurs in Xinjiang.”

61. Ukrainian GUR: Russian Authorities May Announce Additional Mobilisation on January 15

The Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) announced on January 7th that “Andriy Chernyak, a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Ukraine, told about this in a comment to the “t-online” publication. According to the representative of military intelligence of Ukraine, up to five hundred thousand Russians will be mobilised to the armed forces of the terrorist country. Mobilisation, the draft decree of which already exists, this time will also take place in large Russian cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg. The armed forces of Russia will include men who currently work both in social spheres and in industries that bring profits to the Russian economy.”

62. Argentina: Larreta: “Kirchnerism Uses Illegal Espionage to Attack Those Who Do Not Think Like Them”

Detail Zero published this article on January 5th saying that “less than 24 hours have passed since Marcelo D’Alessandro announced his request for leave from office as Minister of Security for the city of Buenos Aires. At that time, The head of government, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, has already defended him twice after several days of silence on the matter. After sharing a letter on his social networks, the Buenos Aires president once again supported his official while he was leading an act at a city school. The PRO leader claimed to be “proud” of D’Alessandro’s management in front of the security portfolio and insisted that “Marcelo D’Alessandro’s phone was hacked, his phone line was stolen, his telegram chats were copied and they edited the conversations.” Larreta highlighted the decrease in crime in the city of Buenos Aires and expressed that “as I say that this is a source of pride, I must also say that sadly we witnessed a new Kirchnerism operation using illegal espionage, manipulating information to attack and persecute those who do not think like them”. In addition, he assured that Said operation also serves to “disguise us from inflation, from insecurity, from the issues that really concern us Argentines.” “It is a typical behavior of the mafias,” he added.”

63. Podcast: Spycraft 101: The Last Cold War Mole with Robert Baer

On January 2nd Spycraft 101 published this new podcast episode. As per its description, “the existence of a possible fourth high-level mole in the US intelligence community has been a persistent rumor for more than twenty years. Shortly after the arrest of case officer Aldrich Ames in February 1994, a team of analysts working inside the CIA came to the conclusion that not all of the catastrophic losses the agency had suffered over the previous decade could be attributed to either Ames or Edward Lee Howard, another former case officer who defected to the Soviet Union in September 1985. Beginning in 1985, the agency’s assets in Russia were systematically uncovered and eliminated. By 1994, they were virtually blind to the inner workings of the Russian government. At the time, FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who had been passing information to the Russians since 1979, still hadn’t been identified and wouldn’t be arrested until 2001. However, even his own betrayals couldn’t explain every loss the agency had suffered. A team of four CIA and FBI analysts, led by Laine Bannerman, began a highly compartmentalized, months-long study of not just every lost agent, but every case officer and senior administrator who might have known about them. The list was short and included the names of some of the most powerful and longest-serving personnel in the entire agency. They gradually eliminated one name after another until there was only a single likely candidate remaining. In November 1994 they presented their findings to a panel of two senior CIA and one FBI official. In an almost unbelievable turn of events, not publicly revealed until this year, the man they identified as the most likely candidate was one of the two senior CIA men in the room with them for the presentation. For episode 56 of the Spycraft 101 podcast, I spoke with Robert “Bob” Baer, author of The Fourth Man. Baer himself had a storied career with the CIA and didn’t learn about the hunt for the fourth man until many years later. We discussed the ramifications of the team’s findings, and what happened in the aftermath.”

64. Turmoil and Gains for Ukraine’s Spymasters at Heart of the War

Intelligence Online reported on January 3rd that “the Ukrainian intelligence landscape has undergone deep tectonic shifts since Russia’s invasion nearly a year ago. Former prominent figures have fallen while previously less sought-after services have risen in power, cooperation partnerships have been formed and missions refocused.”

65. United States: NSA Year in Review: Magnificent Milestones

On January 6th the US NSA published this press release saying that “NSA celebrated several milestones in 2022 that honored the Agency’s past while looking ahead to its future. We’re happy to share more about three in particular: the National Cryptologic Museum, NSA’s 70th Anniversary, and the opening of the Morrison Center.”

66. Pro-Putin Operatives in Germany Work to Turn Berlin Against Ukraine

Reuters published this exclusive story on January 3rd saying that “in Germany some are clamouring for a change in course on Ukraine. Key figures in the campaign have links to the Russian state or far right, a Reuters investigation has found. In a square beneath the twin spires of Cologne’s gothic cathedral, around 2,000 protesters gathered in September to urge Germany’s government to break with the Western coalition backing Ukraine and make peace with Russia. “We must stop being vassals of the Americans,” right-wing German politician Markus Beisicht said from a makeshift stage on the back of a truck. The crowd clapped and waved Russian and German flags. A lean man in camouflage trousers stood at the side of the stage, obscured from the crowd by a tarpaulin. A few metres away, a burly man in dark sunglasses stood guard. The rally’s organisers did not welcome questions. Most declined to speak when approached by a Reuters reporter. One protester tried to persuade a police officer to arrest the reporter as a Ukrainian spy. The rally was just one of many occasions — online and on the streets — where people have clamoured that Berlin should reconsider its support for Ukraine. That message taps into deep connections between Germany and Russia, with several million Russian speakers living in Germany, a legacy of Soviet ties to Communist east Germany, and decades of German dependency on Russian gas. The stakes are high: if Germany, the European Union’s biggest economy, turns its back on Kyiv, European unity over the war will fracture. Through interviews and a review of social media posts and other publicly available information, Reuters has established the identities of key figures involved in pushing a pro-Moscow stance inside Germany since the war began, including the two men hovering near the stage in Cologne.”

67. Former CIA Deputy Director of Operations Jim Pavitt Dies

On January 7th the Hayden Centre announced that “rest in peace, Jim Pavitt, former CIA Deputy Director of Operations who passed in late December. Under his leadership CIA launched officers in response to the 9/11 attack, putting the first boots on the ground in Afghanistan.”

68. Palantir Skykit — Intelligence and Operations at the Edge

This week Palantir published this promotional video for its new Skykit. As per its description, “Palantir Skykit brings intelligence and operations to the edge. It is a fully disconnected intelligence center giving soldiers an advantage over adversaries. Skykit is powered by Palantir software including Meta-Constellation and AIP, enabling users to task and analyze data from anywhere.” The company also published some photos from CES 2023 on January 6th showing the new Skykit.

69. Vladimir Putin’s Regime Crumbling as Spies Defect and Russia Keeps Relatives ‘Hostage’

The Mirror published this article on January 6th saying that “more than 20 Russian diplomats and spies have defected since the invasion of Ukraine in a sign Vladimir Putin’s flailing regime faces collapse over the war, the Mirror can reveal. The unprecedented swapping of sides has spurred the tyrant to put “Stalinist” restrictions on foreign postings. Most of Moscow’s officials on foreign missions now have to accept family members being left at home during their posting, effectively kept hostage. It is the latest of Vladimir Putin ’s cruel safeguards against further catastrophic defections as family members could be jailed or worse if an official swaps sides. Even if family members return to Russia whilst a spy or diplomat is on an overseas posting they will be kept at home as collateral.”

70. Panel Discussion: War in Ukraine: Open Secrets

On January 3rd the Hayden Centre published this video recording. As per its description, “join General Michael Hayden, former Director of CIA and NSA, as he hosts Frederick Kagan and Karolina Hird of the Institute for the Study of War for an update on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, developed solely from analysis of unclassified information from open sources and publicly available information. Michael Morell, former Acting and Deputy Director of CIA, moderates this look at both the state of play in the conflict and the unique analytic approach and methodology used by ISW. ISW’s analysis has been regarded by many veterans of intelligence and policy communities as rivaling that produced historically by the US Intelligence Community. The unprecedented use of declassified intelligence and dramatic increase in the quantity and quality of work like ISW’s is revolutionizing how wars are waged. Dr. Kagan, an ISW contributor, is a senior fellow and Director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. Ms. Hird is a Russia analyst on ISW’s Ukraine/Russia portfolio. The Hayden Center is located at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government in Arlington, VA. General Hayden, our founder, and Mr. Morell, our senior fellow, have been visiting professors at Schar School for 13 and 4 years, respectively.”

71. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) RIDS “Dead List”

On January 7th the Black Vault shared 3 FBI “dead lists” from 2016, 2019, and 2022. As per the article, “the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) processes thousands of requests each year. When requesting a file on a certain individual under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) / Privacy Act, you, as the requester, are required to show either 1) a certified statement from the person you are requesting files on, and the fact they are ok with you receiving the records, or 2) proof of death. This can be in the form of a death certificate or obituary from a valid/reputable source. As these requests for files are processed, the FBI has compiled a list, used as an internal reference, which totals more than 17,000 people that the FBI understands are deceased. What is valuable about this list, is that each and every name on it — can be be referenced by researchers, as that individual actually having a file, and that the FBI already has determined and understands, they are deceased. In November of 2019, The Black Vault received part of the most recent version of this list (or believed to be the most recent version.) Previous releases are archived here for reference as well.”

72. United States NGA Awards Maxar Land Cover and Enhanced API Contracts

Through a formal announcement on January 4th Maxar stated that “Maxar Technologies, provider of comprehensive space solutions and secure, precise, geospatial intelligence, today announced new contract awards worth up to $35.8 million from the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The first award is a one-year Period of Performance contract worth up to $22.5 million with $11.3 million initially funded under NGA’s Janus Geography program. This new award builds upon Maxar’s more than 20 years of experience delivering foundational geospatial intelligence data to NGA by characterizing land cover at high resolution over numerous previously unmapped areas. Under the second award, worth up to $13.3 million, Maxar will provide NGA’s Foundation Program with a modern, enhanced application programming interface (API) capable of querying, discovering and downloading Maxar products derived from the company’s 125-petabyte (PB) high-resolution commercial imagery archive. Additionally, this enhanced API will deliver content to the end user’s cloud account rather than via legacy dissemination methods. Additional options include third-party content integration, full business analytics and greater production capacity. The enhanced API award is for a performance period of up to 4.5 years consisting of a base of six months and four full option years. The new API will support computer vision, machine learning and artificial intelligence applications.”

73. Podcast: John Kiriakou on the CIA, FBI, JFK and 9/11

On January 4th Scott Horton published a new podcast episode. As per its description, “Scott talks with John Kiriakou — former CIA officer, whistleblower and author — to discuss revelations, old and new, about the CIA’s connections to Lee Harvey Oswald as well as the agency’s awareness of 9/11 hijackers before the attacks. They also look at the Saudi regime’s connections to the attacks and explore possible motives for the purported ally to help attack the United States. Throughout the interview, Scott and Kiriakou explore the bad blood between the CIA and the FBI. Kiriakou tells some personal stories to illustrate how this rivalry manifested before and after 9/11.”

74. Hidden Chinese Tracking Device ‘Found in UK Government Car’ Sparks National Security Fears

iNews reported on January 6th that “a hidden Chinese tracking device was found in a UK Government car after intelligence officials stripped back vehicles in response to growing concerns over spyware, i has been told. At least one SIM card capable of transmitting location data was discovered in a sweep of Government and diplomatic vehicles which uncovered “disturbing things”, a serving security source confirmed. The geolocating device had been placed into a vehicle inside a sealed part imported from a supplier in China and installed by the vehicle manufacturer, according to the source. Chinese officials dismissed the revelations as “groundless and sheer rumour”, adding: “We are firmly opposed to political manipulation on normal economic and trade cooperation or any smear on Chinese enterprises.” The discovery raises serious national security concerns amid heightened demands from senior politicians for an urgent review into the “systemic threat” posed by Chinese intelligence.”

75. OpenAI GPT3 bot — Unrestricted Intelligence

This week the Unrestricted Intelligence OpenAI (GPT3) based bot was released. As per its About page, “we know for a fact something huge is coming. AI is about to transform how the intelligence community and commercial entities do intelligence analysis and reporting. This site is built to help demonstrate a bit of what is possible today so we can all better prepare for tomorrow. Our desire with the site is to get experienced users of intelligence to test it out and give us feedback. This will help us see how to contribute to the future of policy discussions on AI in the national security and corporate intelligence space and will also help us see how the new GPT-4 will improve over current models once it arrives.”

76. Podcast: Dr. Robert Clark (Geospatial Intelligence, Ukraine War, Intelligence Community Insights)

On January 5th the NDS Show published a new episode. As per its description, “Dr. Robert Clark is an author on several books for intelligence analysis, collection, and distribution. His most recent book is “Geospatial Intelligence: Origins and Evolution.” In this episode Nick and Robert discuss the evolution of geospatial intelligence from the early days of remote sensing for surveillance on Russian Military equipment, all the way to the current war in Ukraine, the rise of Open Source Intelligence, and the future of Artificial Intelligence in the Intelligence Community. Robert provides knowledge and vast insights into the Intelligence Community working at CIA, DNI and Military Locations throughout his career. The two intelligence professionals discuss intelligence production, working in the intelligence community, and provide tips for advancing in intelligence careers. Robert M. Clark previously was a faculty member of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Intelligence Community Officers’ Course and course director of the DNI’s Introduction to the Intelligence Community course. Clark served as a USAF electronics warfare officer and intelligence officer, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. At CIA, he was a senior analyst and group chief. He subsequently was the founder, President and CEO of the Scientific and Technical Analysis Corporation. He is the author of Intelligence Analysis: A Target-centric Approach (6th edition, 2019), The Technical Collection of Intelligence (2010), and Intelligence Collection (2014). He is a co-author, with Dr. William Mitchell, of Target-Centric Network Modeling (2015) and Deception: Counterintelligence and Counterdeception (2018); and, co-editor, with Dr. Mark Lowenthal, of Intelligence Collection: The Five Disciplines (2015). His newest book, The Road to Geospatial Intelligence: The Story of GEOINT, was published in 2020. Clark holds a BS from MIT, a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, and a J.D. from George Washington University. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Bar.”

77. Moldova’s Government Hit by Flood of Phishing Attacks

The Record reported on January 7th that “Moldova’s government institutions have been hit by a wave of phishing attacks — the latest cyber assault on the country since it pledged support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Hackers have sent more than 1,330 emails to accounts belonging to the country’s state services, Moldova’s cybersecurity regulator announced on Thursday. In one campaign, emails contained a message about the alleged expiration of the .md government domain and instructed users to follow a malicious link leading to a fake payment page to renew it. The phishing emails were sent on behalf of the website hosting company Alexhost, according to email samples published on the Moldovan Information Technology and Cyber ​​Security Service (STISC) website. The company warned its users about the phishing campaign on Monday. “Someone is using the name of our company without any consent,” the statement said. “Alexhost takes this seriously and will act.” Following the phishing incidents, the company said it would start asking its customers to check invoices before making any payments. Moldova’s cybersecurity regulator did not disclose whether the phishing campaigns were successful and how many state institutions were affected. It is also not clear who is behind these attacks and if the perpetrators were nation-state hackers or unaffiliated ransomware gangs. The regulator did not respond to The Record’s request for comment. Over the past year, Moldova has witnessed a sharp increase in cyberattacks, likely in connection to the country’s support of Ukraine during the war with Russia.”

78. New Videos Published by HawkEye 360 for RF-Based Satellite Intelligence Collection

On January 3rd HawkEye 360 published the “Fireside Chat: Applying RF to Maritime Needs” described as “in this video, our Moderator, Kari Bingen, Director of, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) discuss the value of RF, and it’s uses in maritime domain awareness, dark ship detection, IUU Fishing and much more with guests, Hon. Deborah Lee James, the 23rd Secretary of the Airforce (2013–2017, and Admiral Paul Zukunft, the 25th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.” And the second video, titled “RF Geolocation of Artisanal Mining in Africa” was described as “artisanal Small-scale Mining (ASM) can have devastating impacts on the global environment, as well as regional human health efforts. Illegal ASM destroys landscapes through deforestation and land degradation, leading to flooding and depletion of nutrients from the soil, damaging wildlife habitats, and harming species. In this video learn how HawkEye 360’s radio frequency (RF) data is equipping governments with a powerful new tool to reveal and track ASM globally.”

79. Russian SVR Accused London of Falsifying Documents at the Beginning of World War II

The Russian RIA Novosti published this on January 6th, saying that “at the beginning of World War II, Great Britain was going to release a collection of fraudulent materials with the support of France in order to make the USSR responsible for the development of events that led to the global conflict, follows from the declassified archival materials of the Foreign Intelligence Service. A document titled “Intelligence report on the attempts of the British and French to prepare and publish the” Blue Book “on the Anglo-French-Soviet negotiations with all the blame for their failure on the USSR”, dated January 27, 1940, was posted on the website of the Presidential Library as part of the project “World War II in Archival Documents”. The report notes that the book will consist of specially selected and falsified “documents” — in this way London hoped to prove to the world that while “England honestly negotiated with the Soviet Union and intended to conclude a pact, the Bolsheviks all the time conducted a double the game and the signing of the Soviet-German treaty unleashed a European war.” According to KGB expert, Filip Kovacevic “I translated the NKVD intel report from London dated January 27, 1940, on the basis of which SVR & RIA Novosti claimed today that the UK intended to blame the USSR for the start of WWII by falsifying documents. We already reported that in the nearest future the British will publish the so-called “Blue Book” about the Anglo-Soviet negotiations in 1939. This book will contain a series of specially selected and falsified “documents” which, according to the opinion of the “Islanders,” will be able to show the world that while “Britain honestly negotiated with the USSR and intended to make a pact, the Bolsheviks played a double game throughout and, by signing the Soviet-German pact, initiated the war in Europe.”.”

80. Documentary: Palestine Declassified — Zionist Spying on US Presidents

On January 7th the Iranian Press TV published this short documentary. As per its description, “this edition of the program is about unending Israeli espionage on the US soil. The discussion is that the regime has been wrongly believed to be Washington’s number one ally in the Middle East. The regime is, however, treating the US as a pawn since it has been running spying operation on the US since its establishment.”

81. Saudi Arabian Espionage Operation Reportedly Forced Wikimedia to Ban Saudi-Based Team of Administrators

On January 6th Gizmodo reported that “two privileged administrators of online encyclopedia Wikipedia were reportedly arrested by Saudi Arabian officials. The pair have been sentenced to 32 and eight years in prison for editing conflict critical of the government. The prison sentences predated a larger alleged Saudi espionage operation within the company which ultimately led Wikipedia to terminate each and every one of its administrators operating in the country. The bans were the result of an internal Wikimedia investigation revealed by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) an advocacy group founded by deceased Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. DAWN says it learned of the arrests and Wikipedia bans from sources close to Wikipedia and the jailed administrators themselves. Wikimedia did not respond to Gizmodo’s requests for comment.”

82. The Cold War Files that Prove Runaway Minister John Stonehouse was a Czech Spy Codenamed Agent Twister

On January 7th the Daily Mail published this story saying that “a dimly lit restaurant in Communist-era Prague and a British politician gazes across a table at his flirtatious translator, Irena. ‘I’m in your hands,’ he declares with a twinkle. This, we are led to believe, was the pivotal moment when Labour Minister John Stonehouse was ensnared in a Czech honeytrap, forcing him to become a spy and setting in train a series of events leading to one of the strangest episodes in political history — his faked death in Miami in November 1974. At least this is how the new three-part ITV drama, Stonehouse, depicts it. Following the restaurant scene, viewers are taken to the bedroom where, with hidden cameras rolling, Stonehouse is caught in flagrante with Irena. Rollicking fun, for sure, but even allowing for artistic licence and Stonehouse’s roving eye, it is quite an imaginative stretch. The truth is, Irena didn’t exist, there was no honeytrap and Stonehouse, played by Matthew Macfadyen as more Bean than Bond, was never the fool he appears on screen. Indeed, speaking last week, the former MP’s daughter, Julia, angrily denied her father was a spy. Her family, she says, is considering suing ITV. On that fateful day in 1974, Stonehouse left his clothes and passport on a beach and invited the world, including his wife and three children, to believe he drowned — an act that is said to have inspired The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin. In fact, he came ashore further along the Florida coast and changed into clothes he had left earlier at another hotel before fleeing to Australia under a false identity to start a new life with his mistress, his secretary Sheila Buckley.”