Russians Penetrate Czech Generals' Offices

Russian Spy Reaches Czech Generals' Offices - Report
PRAGUE | Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:46pm IST

(Reuters) - Three Czech generals, including a presidential staff member and a NATO representative, were forced to leave the army in 2009 after a Russian spy's contact with their offices, a Czech newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Czech military and counter-intelligence agents have increasingly highlighted Russian agents' presence in the central European NATO and European Union member, and this has been the biggest reported case of infiltration into the military.

Citing an unnamed source, daily Mlada Fronta Dnes said the Russian agent, a Czech state-employed psychologist known as Robert R., befriended a female army major, who had also studied psychology and worked successively as head of staff for the three army generals.

The generals, respectively, worked as head of President Vaclav Klaus's Military Office, the Czechs' NATO representative in Europe, and a deputy general for the Chief of Staff.

The newspaper said it was not clear whether the army major worked for the Russian agent knowingly, nor what information was passed on and if it posed a security threat. Military intelligence agents followed the two for at least five years.

The agent fled to Russia and the major finished in the army.

Josef Sedlak, the general who lost his position as NATO representative, told Mlada Fronta Dnes he felt he had been unfairly treated.

"If some information existed showing one of my colleagues was connected to a spy, then the agency should have told me to protect me. And not follow me like some villain," he was quoted as saying.

The newspaper said another of the generals quit over a disagreement about changes being made in the military, while the third general could not be reached by the newspaper.

The Defence Ministry and counter-intelligence agency BIS declined to comment.

BIS reported last month that Russian spies were increasingly active in the Czech Republic and turning their attention to the energy sector.

BIS said the presence of Russian intelligence operatives among academics and students posed a potential problem for the former Soviet satellite state.

The Czechs are also wary of their dependence on their Cold War master Russia in the energy sector. Russia's Atomstroyexport is among three bidders to enlarge the country's largest nuclear power plant in Temelin.

Last year, the Czech Republic expelled two Russian diplomats, including a deputy to the military attache, on suspicions of spying.Sphere: Related Content