Sep 16, 2022

Czech Diplomat Leaked Classified Information to Russian Intelligence

Prague Morning

The Security Information Service (BIS) of the Czech Republic exposed a former Foreign Ministry employee, who allegedly handed over classified information to the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) of Russia, Mlada Fronta Dnes reported Thursday.

According to the report, the suspect, a long-time Foreign Ministry employee, was under counter-intelligence surveillance for several years.

The publication said that while working at the embassy of one of the African countries, the Czech diplomat met a Russian couple, of whom the man was an employee of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

Then the relationship between them turned into full-fledged cooperation – the Russian intelligence officer demanded information from his informant, including classified information.

At the same time, the law in force in the Czech Republic does not allow the use of intelligence data in court, so the sources interviewed by the publication could not answer the question of whether the former employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is facing criminal prosecution.

Prime Minister Fiala praised BIS, who had surveilled the man for years, for uncovering his activities.

One source told Deník N that the Russian spy agency had capitalised on the man’s “weakness for women and money”.