Thread by @_JakubJanda

THREAD: RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE THREATENING LIVES OF THREE CZECH MAYORS:

On 14 March 2020, right before the borders got closed due to the pandemic, a Russian diplomat flew into Prague.

Read the full story, there are details on one FSB officer.

Here is what we know today:

As reported by Czech investigative journalist @bonicek7: He was picked up the chief of security of the Russian Embassy (= senior intelligence officer) and driven directly from the Prague airport by a Russian diplomatic car to the Russian Embassy in Prague.

This Russian „diplomat“ is in fact a FSB officer,serving at 5th Directorate (focus: Near Neighborhood,countries close to Russia).

Counterintelligence @biscz received anonymous tip saying the FSB officer will arrive,carrying two toxins: ricin & saxitoxin

(reported by @bonicek7)

Details from this tip were reportedly verified by @biscz, also with help of allied agencies, according to reporting by @bonicek7. Another Czech investigative journalist @okundra reported on the suspected Russian intelligence officer arriving to Prague & carrying ricin a week ago

WHO THE FSB OFFICER IS, reported by @SeznamZpravy & @CzechTV:

Andrej Viktorovič Končakov

- born in 1986 in Moscow

- studied National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (МИФИ)

- interned at Moscow City administration

- worked at „Center of advanced technologies EADS-MNIIPU

HIS COVER:

Since December 2017: Acting head of Rossotrudnichestvo in the Czech Republic (=Russia Federal Agency for Compatriots Living Abroad).

He is in the Czech Republic for several years,received diplomatic status in 2019,according to @SeznamZpravy.

rsvk.cz/cs/hlavni/pred…

WHAT IS CONFIRMED BY MEDIA REPORTS:

1) Czech counterintelligence @biscz received a tip.

2) Cover of FSB officer at Russian Embassy in Prague is blown.

3) We do not know for sure if the toxins arrived in Prague or if it was just a false tip/Russian disinformation.

REALITY CHECK:

But the threat is real: three Czech mayors are under police protection for more than month - due to (Russian) threat to their lives.

That is unprecedented. In 30 years, we never had such an urgent physical threat posed by Russian intelligence on the Czech soil.

On 6 May 2020, Parliamentary Security Committee held a closed session with the Czech Police President, Interior Minister & Czech counterintelligence @biscz Director.

RESULT: MPs from all Czech political parties publicly supported actions taken by Czech security institutions.

Moreover, another piece of knowledge is confirmed:

Russian intelligence sent a specific team to target Russian opposition figures in Europe: news reported by both @bonicek7& @okundra. This Czech story is interconnected to it, details remain non-public.

In reaction to this arrival of this FSB officer to Prague, three Czech local politicians were put under permanent security protection by Czech security authorities:

1) Mayor of Prague @ZdenekHrib: managed naming a „Boris Nemtsov“ Plaza next to the Russian Embassy

2) Mayor of Prague 6 City District Ondřej Kolář: managed moving of Soviet-era Red Army statue from a city square to a museum.

3) Mayor of Prague district „Řeporyje“ @PavelNovotnak: launched a memorial regarding WWII history which contradicts official Russian narratives

Those three Czech mayors are still under police protection now, for more than a month.

Since mid March, the Russian government launched aggressive intimidation campaign against the Czech Republic:

- Russian law-enforcement started „prosecution“ of Czech local politicians (using absurd new Russian law against "falsification of history")

- Russian Foreign Ministry publicly supported physical attacks against Czech diplomatic facilities in Russia

+ massive disinformation

SUMMARY: Right now, Czech Republic faces the most aggressive Russian diplomatic & intelligence escalation over last 30 years.

CONTEXT: Russia also pressures Poland or our Baltic allies - the Kremlin manipulates interpretation of history and "punishes" those who disagree.

Original reporting by leading Czech journalists (all in Czech language)

@okundra /@RESPEKT_CZ:
respekt.cz/tydenik/2020/1…

@bonicek7 /@lidovenoviny: lidovky.cz/domov/pred-rus…

@SeznamZpravy: seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/mluvili…

@cirokova_k & @zuzana_cerna (@CzechTV):
ceskatelevize.cz/porady/1011703…