When some look to buy a car or sofa on Leboncoin, others use it to recruit their future target for espionage missions. On the classifieds site, French youths offering private math or economics classes were approached by Russian spies, according to an investigation by the newspaper. The world.
The modus operandi of Russian spies in the SVR (the foreign intelligence service) is generally the same: contact a target for simple mentoring, and ultimately try to retrieve strategic information.
Young graduates in political science or newly hired in large strategic companies… the idea of Russian agents is to target targets with promising careers, but also inexperienced and who cannot suspect them. By gaining your trust, they hope to gain access to valuable information. According to information from WorldAs confirmed by a source from the Ministry of the Interior, a dozen contracts have been recorded.
Know the opposite strategy
Thus, in 2020, a French man hired at a civil-military technology company specialized in artificial intelligence was approached by a certain Czech consultant who wanted to strengthen his knowledge of mathematics. Classes were held once every three weeks in the best restaurants. In reality, he was a Russian agent in charge of scientific and technological issues in the economic mission of his embassy in Paris.
Unmasked, this spy was expelled after being caught red-handed: “he gave this young engineer cash against analysis documents on advanced technologies”, specifies The world. In most cases, Russian agents operate fully or partially undercover.
Similar situations have been identified for French lessons transformed into notes on domestic and foreign policy paid between 200 and 300 euros or economics lessons given by a former parliamentary collaborator quickly diverted into lessons on theFrench entrepreneurship.
One of the notes requested during a supposed French lesson concerned the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, currently at the center of a strategic battle between Russia and Europe.
always according to The world, French authorities estimate that 75 Russian agents, under diplomatic cover, are present in France. If they have immunity in case of arrest, the French services keep a close eye on them. Some were expelled, others openly warned by the DGSI.
Source: BFM TV
