#espionage
[gopher://gopher.floodgap.com/0/feeds/voaheadlines/2024/Oct/08/https---www.voanews.com-a-new-details-emerge-of-how-journalist-turned-spy-kept-watch-on-navalny-7814317.html](gopher://gopher.floodgap.com/0/feeds/voaheadlines/2024/Oct/08/https---www.voanews.com-a-new-details-emerge-of-how-journalist-turned-spy-kept-watch-on-navalny-7814317.html)
Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.
New details emerge of how journalist-turned-spy kept watch on Navalny
by Graham Keeley
For nearly a decade, a Spanish Russian freelancer used his cover as a
journalist to spy on Russian dissidents for Moscow, including late
opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Disclosures from intelligence services have shed further light on how
Pablo Gonzalez operated.
Posing as a journalist, Gonzalez allegedly sent the GRU, the Russian
military intelligence, photographs and the Wi-Fi passwords of venues
for meetings of exiled opposition groups.
Gonzalez was also accused of preparing reports on forums attended by
officials from former Soviet Union countries.
His alleged investigations centered on prospective NATO members,
dissident members and the security structures of neighboring states.
His cover as a freelancer who reported for Spanish media and
contributed to international networks, including Spain's EFE, Deutsche
Welle, and VOA was so good that even after his arrest in Poland in
February 2022, some supporters still believed it was a case of mistaken
identity.
In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Gonzalez at an
airport in Moscow as part of a hostage swap in which American
journalists and Russian rights activists were exchanged for an assassin
and spies. Their greeting ended any speculation.
Gonzalez, a married father of three, always denied spying and was never
formally charged.
But on Sunday, Spanish newspaper [1]El Mundo reported it had obtained
access to dozens of reports on Gonzalez, citing "Spanish and foreign
intelligence sources."
The Polish prosecutor's office said in a report that Gonzalez "formally
belonged to the structures of the (GRU)" from April 2016.
He was described as "a journalist and political scientist by
profession, married with three children, who covered current affairs
throughout the former Soviet Union with a monthly income of between
'¬1,500 ($1,645) and '¬2,000 ($2,194) and collaborated with various
news outlets."
VOA hired Gonzalez via a third-party freelance media platform. After
learning of his arrest in Poland, the broadcaster removed his content.
Miguel Angel Oliver, president of EFE, told VOA that his network had a
" brief collaboration" with Gonzalez, principally about photographs at
the start of the Ukraine war."
Espionage files
El Mundo described how Polish investigators allegedly uncovered a
report in Gonzalez's possession containing "the addresses of clinics in
Barcelona and Lausanne" in Switzerland where Navalny was treated in
2017. The document is dated June 14, 2017.
Navalny met Gonzalez twice in Europe, once when Navalny underwent eye
surgery in Barcelona after being attacked with a chemical substance.
Gonzalez allegedly sent details of the clinic to Russian authorities,
even taking a selfie with Navalny.
In September 2020, after Navalny survived a poisoning attempt, Gonzalez
posted the selfie on social media. In a post, he said Navalny was not
being targeted by the Russian government, investigators alleged.
Gonzalez also suggested on social media that Navalny's anti-corruption
platform FBK would "continue operating as usual with more support and
permissiveness," saying the opposition leader was "neither dead nor
incapacitated."
In 2023, Navalny returned to Russia and died in a high-security prison
in Siberia in February 2024.
On the surface, Gonzalez worked as a reporter, specializing in the
post-Soviet Union republics.
Polish intelligence said Gonzalez began reporting back to Moscow when
he began traveling abroad.
Documents found in his possession between 2016 and 2021 detail that
after a stay in Georgia, Gonzalez sent a report to the GRU about the
"issue of post-Soviet states and accession processes" and "NATO members
and aspiring members' attitudes towards Russia."
Gonzalez is also accused of sending information about key security
infrastructure in Poland. He allegedly published "disinformation
articles on the internet aligned with the Russian Federation's official
propaganda policy," the files seen by El Mundo said.
The newspaper said it had reviewed the contents of laptops, phones,
iPads and memory cards, seized when Gonzalez was arrested. Electronic
devices that could be used to establish clandestine communication
channels were discovered, according to Polish investigators.
When questioned, Gonzalez denied spying, according to Polish court
documents viewed by the Spanish newspaper.
However, when confronted with documentary evidence, Gonzalez "refused
to comment."
His lawyer, Gonzalo Boye, said the details published by El Mundo left
him feeling "helpless."
"Polish law prevents us from talking about anything that is part of the
criminal process," Boye told VOA. "It is as if the intention is to show
Pablo as being guilty when for more than 2 ½ years, they were not able
to bring an accusation and bring him to trial."
The lawyer, who has represented American whistleblower Edward Snowden
and Carles Puigdemont, a Catalan separatist leader, compared Gonzalez
to Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter unjustly detained in Russia
for nearly 500 days on false espionage charges.
Gonzalez was one of several suspected Russian spies released in
exchange for Gershkovich and other political prisoners.
"It is clear that there is a double standard in dealing with the case
of one and the other journalist," Boye told VOA, adding, "But I
understand that this is what happens in political contexts like the one
we are living in at the moment when one is on one side or the other,
when I prefer to be on the side of truth and the rule of law."
Through Boye, VOA asked Gonzalez for a comment but did not receive a
response.
A source with knowledge of the Russian intelligence sector who did not
want to be named, told VOA that Gonzalez grew up in Basque Country,
where sympathies for the independence movement are common. And in
left-wing circles, support for Putin is not unusual.
This meant many who met him did not challenge his pro-Russian roots,
far less suspect he worked for Russian intelligence.
Alongside spying on Navalny in 2016, Gonzalez infiltrated the Boris
Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom, named after a Russian opposition
politician who was assassinated in 2015. At the foundation, he became
close with key members of the group.
Nemtsov's daughter Zhanna Nemtsova posted on social media that she was
a victim of Gonzalez.
Spanish secret services, speaking on background to a VOA reporter, said
they believed he was a Russian spy.
Polish security services said Gonzalez had been "carrying out
intelligence tasks in Europe."
Richard Moore, head of Britain's foreign intelligence service MI6, said
at the Aspen Security Forum in 2022 that Gonzalez was an "illegal"
arrested in Poland after "masquerading as a Spanish journalist."
"He was going into Ukraine to be part of their destabilizing efforts
there," Moore said.
References
#navalny #russia #spy #spying #gru #journalist #journalism #pablo-gonzalez #espionage #spain #spanish #reporter #prisoner-swap
#Amsterdam municipality bans #Telegram on work phones over criminal use, #espionage #threat
Telegram is a “safe haven for hackers, cybercriminals, and drug dealers,” a spokesperson for Amsterdam’s IT alderman Alexander Scholtes told the broadcaster. The city is also concerned about possible espionage through the app, even though it no longer has official ties to #Russia. Telegram was set up in Russia, but the head office has since moved to #Dubai, and the #company is officially located in the Virgin Islands.
#news #software #messenger #crime #cybercrime #cybersecurity #security #problem #Netherlands #hack #hacker
https://masto.ai/@Nonilex/112650174866328495 Nonilex@masto.ai - #Judge in #Trump #ClassifiedDocuments Case Rejected Suggestions to Step Aside
Shortly after #AileenCannon drew the assignment in June 2023 to oversee #Trump’s classified documents case, 2 more experienced #Florida #judges on the federal bench urged her to pass it up & hand it off to another jurist.
She didn’t.
#NationalSecurity #criminal #law #legal #conspiracy #obstruction #espionage
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/us/politics/aileen-cannon-trump-classified-documents.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb
Gaza: Israeli army expands its use of #quadcopters (Hexacopters )to kill more Palestinian civilians
Palestinian Territory - As part of its genocide that has been ongoing since 7 October 2023, Israel has been ramping up its use of small drones, or quadcopters, to drop explosive bombs and “shoot to kill” more Palestinians.
The Israeli army uses electronically controlled quadcopter #drones remotely for a variety of tasks, including #espionage and @surveillance, issuing displacement orders, frightening civilians with loud noises, and—most dangerously—using them as a @weapon to kill and injure Palestinians.
Press release: https://euromedmonitor.org/a/6357
#Gaza #SaveGaza #StopIsrael #SaveTheChildren
#palestine #Israel #Politics #PeaceNow #StopTheWar #CeasefireNow #EuroMed
The #Threat of #Espionage on #Linux Systems is Growing and Can’t be Ignored
source: https://thecyberexpress.com/espionage-on-linux-systems/
https://kolektiva.social/@MikeDunnAuthor/112547559739906346 MikeDunnAuthor@kolektiva.social - Today in Labor History June 2, 1863: Backed by three gunboats, Harriet Tubman and her force of 300 black soldiers, freed 800 slaves in the Combahee River Raid, South Carolina. Furthermore, they set fire to the plantations and destroyed millions of dollars-worth of stores, cotton and homes of the wealthy, without losing a single person. Additionally, it was the only military engagement in American history where a woman, black or white, “led the raid and under whose inspiration it was originated and conducted.” Tubman devised her war strategy after repeatedly penetrating across enemy lines and spying on Confederate troop movements. In the aftermath, Confederate Captain John F. Lay said, “The enemy seems to have been well posted as to the character and capacity of our troops and their small chance of encountering opposition, and to have been well guided by persons thoroughly acquainted with the river and country.” Most Americans know of Tubman’s role in the Underground Railroad. However, she was also a spy for the Union Army. And in the late 1850s, she helped John Brown plan his raid on Harper’s Ferry and recruit supporters for the raid.
#workingclass #LaborHistory #civilwar #harriettubman #slavery #Abolition #undergroundgailroad #johnbrown #liberation #espionage #strongwomen #BlackMastadon #blm
[gopher://gopher.floodgap.com/0/feeds/voaheadlines/2024/May/13/https---www.voanews.com-a-men-charged-in-uk-with-assisting-hong-kong-intelligence-service--7608767.html](gopher://gopher.floodgap.com/0/feeds/voaheadlines/2024/May/13/https---www.voanews.com-a-men-charged-in-uk-with-assisting-hong-kong-intelligence-service--7608767.html)
Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.
3 men charged in UK with assisting Hong Kong intelligence service
by Associated Press
London --
British police have charged three men with assisting the Hong Kong
intelligence service amid growing concern that hostile states are
trying to interfere with democracy and economic activity in the U.K.
The three men were among 11 people arrested earlier this month in
Yorkshire and London by counterterrorism police using provisions of a
new law that allows suspects in national security and espionage cases
to be detained without warrant. The eight other suspects were released
without charge.
Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, Matthew Trickett, 37, and Chung Biu Yuen,
63, are also charged with foreign interference, the Metropolitan Police
Service said. They will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on
Monday.
"A number of arrests were made and searches carried out across England
as part of this investigation," Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the
Met's counterterrorism command, said in a statement. "While led from
London, the Counter Terrorism Policing network has been crucial to
disrupting this activity."
The announcement comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepares to
deliver a speech on Monday in which he is expected to say that Britain
is facing an increasingly dangerous future due to threats from an "axis
of authoritarian states," including Russia, China, Iran and North
Korea. Tensions with China flared last year after a parliamentary
researcher was arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing, charges
that Chinese officials called a "malicious smear."
Hong Kong's security bureau, Hong Kong police and the office of China's
foreign ministry in Hong Kong didn't immediately respond to requests
for comment.
The British government last year passed a new national security act
that gave police additional powers to tackle foreign espionage. The
legislation was needed to combat the "ever-evolving" threat of foreign
interference and in "response to the threat of hostile activity from
states targeting the U.K.'s democracy, economy, and values," the
government said.
The arrests in the current case were made on May 1 and 2. The
investigation is continuing, police said.
#hong-kong #china #uk #espionage #counterterrorism #metropolitan-police #met #the-met
... and Trump walks free?
Jack Teixeira Agrees to 16-Year Plea Deal in Document Leaks Case
Airman Teixeira withdrew his not-guilty plea and pleaded guilty to six counts of “willful retention and transmission of national defense information,” according to court filings.
Story: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/us/politics/jack-teixeira-guilty-classified-documents.html
Interesting..... (but somehow not surprising)
Did Smirnov's Lawyer Try to Help Him Flee the US?
"Russia, are you (still) listening?" - #TrumpVirus / #GQP cult of #sedition, #treason, #disinformation and anti-Americanism
I feel like this should be … Breaking News!
Jack Smith Files "Motion for Reconsideration and Stay' - regarding Cannon's ruling(s) about classified evidence (not actually law)
In between end-of-week, ongoing noise pollution by grating voices, lies across the media, and tribalism gone amok…
This seems to have been gotten lost in the mix - maybe part of the whole ‘counter-programming’ of screens and minds?
This here. IMM, is one of the most important (as in meaningful) events since #Jan6, with quietly-waiting Angel of #Justice, Jack Smith -mostly silent. But he's been working to stop Judge Cannon from obstructing AND/or violating or misunderstanding law.
Not sure what will pop up ‘here’ if I share a link - will be happy if the Post post displays…
**This is Jack Smith's filing (.pdf)
Thin-slice: Jack Smith’s ready to go and is tired of Cannon’s obstruction and disregard for (actual) law!
#TrumpVirus #Cannon #GQP #Jan6 #documents #treason #Jan6 #justice #accountability #JackSmith #Espionage
Flight risk: suspected spy pigeon released after eight months in detention in India
The pigeon’s ordeal began in May when it was captured near a port in Mumbai with two rings tied to its legs, carrying a message that was said to look like it was in Chinese, local media said. Police suspected it was involved in #espionage and took it in, later sending it to Mumbai’s Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit hospital for animals.
Eventually, it was revealed that the pigeon was an open-water racing bird from Taiwan that had escaped and made its way to India. With police permission, the bird was transferred to the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, whose doctors set it free on Tuesday.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/02/india-spy-pidgeon-suspect-china
"Low tech rules"
From an old episode of X-Files
South Korea sanctions North Korean spy chief over illicit cyber activities
Pyongyang is thought to use the money stolen in cyber-heists to fund its illegal weapons programmes.#Cybercrime #Cybersecurity #Espionage #Politics #AsiaPacific #NorthKorea #SouthKorea
South Korea sanctions North Korean spy chief over illicit cyber activities
US says Russia rejected ‘substantial’ proposal to free two jailed Americans
Washington says 'no higher priority' than effort to secure release from Russia of Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan.#Courts #Espionage #Politics #Europe #Russia #UnitedStates #US&Canada
US says Russia rejected ‘substantial’ proposal to free two jailed Americans
Former US ambassador accused of acting as covert agent for Cuba
Former ambassador to Bolivia charged for allegedly collaborating with Cuban intelligence services over several decades.#Courts #Espionage #Politics #UnitedStates #US&Canada
Former US ambassador accused of acting as covert agent for Cuba
Remember the story a few scandals ago (Tuesday?) ... about SCIFs and leaked videos, and Cannon & other #TrumpVIrus ?
Even more importantly, do we recall the big (short) story about some of the most insidious documents (children in cages etc.) were somehow being placed in a super-secure SCIF like nobody's ever seen before.... Drumpf's secret "deals", ostensibly.....
Apropos...
Jack Smith Believes a Possible Motive for Trump’s Stealing Classified Documents Involves Russia
Investigators working for the Justice Department’s Special Counsel, Jack Smith, have allegedly questioned numerous former Trump administration officials regarding the fate of a large cache of classified documents that pertain to the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s interference during the 2016 presidential campaign, The Independent reports.
#justice #truth #accountability #espionage #treason #sedition #emoluments #JackSmith
"You betcha!"™️ #LockHimup ! #TrumpVIrus & #Crime family...
Trump heckled by protester chanting ‘lock him up’ ahead of rally
So much crime! For so many years...
#fraud #emoluments #sedition #espionage #Jan6 #justice #accountability #law #democracy #Karma
Trudeau’s India crisis shows he has lost control of Canada’s spies
Anonymous spooks are getting their way, whatever the consequences, when Trudeau should be investigating their failures.#Opinions #Espionage #Politics #Asia #AsiaPacific #Canada #China #India #US&Canada
Trudeau’s India crisis shows he has lost control of Canada’s spies
UK spying arrests: Five Bulgarians face charges of spying for Russia
Five Bulgarian nationals suspected of spying for Russia are to be charged with conspiracy to conduct espionage.They will appear in a UK Court next week.They ...#AlJazeera #AlJazeeraEnglish #BulgarianspiesintheUK #London #Russiaspycells #Russianforeignintelligenceservice #RussianspycellintheUK #alJazeera #aljazeeraEnglish #aljazeeralive #aljazeeravideo #aljazeeraEnglish #aljazeeralatest #aljazeeralive #aljazeeralivenews #bizerdzhambozov #espionage #fakepassports #harrowgreatYarmouth #katrinivanova #metropolitanpolice #mi5 #orlinroussev #uk-russiatensions #unitedkingdomlatestnews
UK spying arrests: Five Bulgarians face charges of spying for Russia
