Slashdot Mirror
Paul Whelan, American Accused of Spying, is Said to Be Charged in Russia (nytimes.com)
Russian investigative agencies on Thursday indicted Whelan, a 48-year-old former U.S. Marine, on charges of spying, Interfax cited an informed source as saying. From a report: Mr. Whelan's lawyer, Vladimir A. Zherebenkov, who said he spent much of Wednesday with Mr. Whelan, said he had found his client in an upbeat mood despite the long legal road that he faces. "I was surprised to see him being so confident," said Mr. Zherebenkov, a high-profile criminal defense lawyer. Mr. Whelan, 48, the head of global security for the Michigan auto parts maker BorgWarner and a Marine Corps veteran, was arrested last Friday and is being held in solitary confinement in Moscow's notorious Lefortovo Prison. Russia's domestic security agency, the F.S.B., issued a brief statement on Monday saying that Mr. Whelan had been caught in "an act of espionage" but provided no other details.
Mr. Zherebenkov said that he had not seen all the evidence, but that he suspected that the American had been under surveillance for some time. "I presume that he is innocent, because for now I haven't seen any evidence against him that would prove otherwise," said Mr. Zherebenkov, who said that Mr. Whelan would petition the court for bail. Rosbalt, a Russian news agency close to the security services, quoted an unidentified intelligence source on Wednesday as saying that Mr. Whelan had been apprehended during a meeting with a Russian citizen in his room at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. He is accused of trying to recruit this person to obtain classified information about staff members at various Russian agencies, the account said. Mr. Whelan was arrested five minutes after receiving a USB stick containing a list of all the employees at a classified security agency, the report said.
Mr. Zherebenkov said that he had not seen all the evidence, but that he suspected that the American had been under surveillance for some time. "I presume that he is innocent, because for now I haven't seen any evidence against him that would prove otherwise," said Mr. Zherebenkov, who said that Mr. Whelan would petition the court for bail. Rosbalt, a Russian news agency close to the security services, quoted an unidentified intelligence source on Wednesday as saying that Mr. Whelan had been apprehended during a meeting with a Russian citizen in his room at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. He is accused of trying to recruit this person to obtain classified information about staff members at various Russian agencies, the account said. Mr. Whelan was arrested five minutes after receiving a USB stick containing a list of all the employees at a classified security agency, the report said.
How do we know he's not a real spy? The Russians would have poisoned him.
No, they aren't crazy enough to kill foreign agents, that would open up a can of worms they don't want. They have no problem killing Russian expats though, and will do so publicly. Apparently if you are a former Russian agent or citizen who speaks out against Putin you have to stay away from doorknobs, tea, and people carrying umbrellas on bridges.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
If the Russians arrest you for espionage, there are 3 possibilities:
1. You are a spy and they have evidence. You're screwed.
2. You are innocent, but the Russians are putting a number on you for some political reason. You're screwed.
3. You are innocent. The Russians made a mistake. What are the chances the Russians will admit to that and lose face? You're screwed.
They trumped up the charges on him so he they could use him as a bargaining chip. The can now offer to release him in a big publicity show in exchange for Butina, another one of their people being held in the US, easing of sanctions, or something else to Russian interests elsewhere. It would look like the Trump administration liberated a marine veteran and Putin can get whatever he wants.
There is a huge difference. "Foreign agent", covert or not, can be simply lobbying for, consulting for, or representing a foreign government or possibly just an individual. This occupation is not about gathering intelligence but more about being an ambassador for a foreign interest. If you want to define such foreign agent as a spy, then you need to examine your priorities because the DC and Acela Express corridor is filled with thousands of people who represent foreign interests and who don't necessarily register as such. This is against the law, but that's the reality. Butina was basically nothing more but a citizen diplomat. The hype about her arrest is simply part of the American hysteria about Russian interference and collusion.