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Oct 27 • 10 tweets • 6 min read
Russian cultural institutions raise eyebrows in Western counterintelligence. Not without reason. They are seen as a gateway for #SVR #GRU and #FSB. The A.S. Pouchkine Cultural Centre 32, rue Goethe in Luxembourg is also suspected of espionage. A few interesting details 1/10
In an undated interview, former Rossotrudnichestvo official Tatiana Poloskova criticises the cultural institution's involvement with intelligence services. Poloskova is a political analyst and state advisor of the Russian Federation. She knows Putin's power apparatus 2/10
Tatiana Poloskova: "Everyone knows that they are from the #FSB. Of course, no one wants to say that, but in the host countries this label is firmly attached to them. I think this is not so much the result of propaganda as a mistake in our personnel policy“ 3/10
Poloskova talks about Rossotrudnichestvo as a "safe roof and quiet place" for #FSB and #SVR - despite „rivalries" between Foreign Ministry and intelligence services. The interview 4/10: regiondv.com/rysskii-gambit…
The name Vladimir Sokolov also comes up. He was the head of the Pouchkine Cultural Centre in Luxembourg . She mentions a long list of names with #FSB connection. Among them Yuri Zaitsev, long-time director of the Russian Cultural Centre in Vienna 5/10 @thomas_riegler
There are numerous media reports about Vladimir Sokolov's activities between Russia and Luxembourg. Among them this one 6/10 : english.spbstu.ru/media/news/int…
Western intelligence services see these cultural institutions as a cover for Russian intelligence activities in Europe. They are under constant observation. Paris example 7/10👇
Also in the USA #Rossotrudnichestvo is seen as a spy base under cultural cover 8/10👇 politico.eu/article/mariia…
The Russians in Luxembourg - a long history of espionage 9/10 👇
On the hunt for diplomatic pouch 10/10 👇

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More from @LCueilleur

Le cueilleur Profile picture
Oct 25
Stasi Field Station „Park“
#thread

A square functional building on the outskirts of the old capital Bonn in West Germany. The #Stasi operated a #SIGINT base here, disguised as the GDR's diplomatic permanent representation in Bonn 1/6 Image
The full scale of GDR espionage in West Germany only became known after the fall of the Wall. An important #Stasi spy station was located in Bonn at Godesberger Allee 18. The "Ständige Vertretung" (StäV) of the GDR - a kind of embassy. Active 1974 to 1990. Code name "Park" 2/6 ImageImageImage
By order of the GDR, the building was increased by one floor (3 to 4). For good reason. State-of-the-art listening technology was set up there. Code name "STEUERUNG 1“ In a specially secured area, more than 30 receivers and corresponding recording equipment were installed 3/6 ImageImage
Read 6 tweets
Le cueilleur Profile picture
Sep 30
Hunt for diplomatic pouch
#thread

The @tageblatt_lu has a story about a plane crash 40 years ago in Luxembourg. One important detail is missing: the interest Western intel services in the wreckage of the Aeroflot Flight 343. 1/7 tageblatt.lu/headlines/sieb…
7 passengers die in Luxembourg on 29 September 1982 when an Aeroflot IL-62M aircraft fails to land. The plane from Moscow was en route to Ireland, Cuba, Nicaragua and Peru via Luxembourg. In the luggage of the plane there is a lot of diplomatic pouches for the destinations 2/7
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) - Article 27 states: "The diplomatic bag shall not be opened or detained.“ So it's not no baggage, and it's untouchable. However, for intelligence services it is a treasure. And this treasure lies in the wreckage of the IL-62M 3/7 Image
Read 7 tweets
Le cueilleur Profile picture
Apr 16
Moscow's ears in Paris
#thread

The French capital has been an important refuge for Russians for decades. Once again, Moscow has invested heavily in espionage know-how. Even the German counter-intelligence was confronted with it. A closer look 1/6
The largest Russian Orthodox cultural centre in Western Europe opened in Paris in October 2016. In November 2016, @LeTemps ran the headline: "In Paris, Russian espionage under domes“ 2/6 letemps.ch/monde/paris-le…
Excerpts: "There is talk of a Russian place with diplomatic immunity, located just a few hundred metres from the Quai d'Orsay and the Elysée Palace (...) German ambassador Meyer-Landrut, whose residence is nearby, had asked his counterintelligence services for checks" 3/6
Read 6 tweets
Le cueilleur Profile picture
Apr 9
Moscow's ears in Vienna
#thread

A look into the enclave "Little Russia" Erzherzog Karl Straße in Donaustadt shows some interesting details. Since 1979, the compound has been seen as a centre of Soviet/Russian espionage 1/6
Of particular interest is the round building on the site. It is the tallest structure with an open all-round view. A perfect place for a covert #SIGINT collection point. Which it probably is. Current (2020) Google Earth images show 12 satellite dishes in various sizes 2/6
With Google Earth, you can start a time travel from 2003 to today. You can see a massive change on the roof of the building over the years. In May 2003 you can hardly see anything. In July 2006, two satellite dishes appear 3/6
Read 6 tweets
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Jul 12, 2021
The Stasi bunker in Bavaria
#thread

Unnoticed by Western intelligence services, the Stasi established a secret "Stay Behind" network in West Germany. A piece of #ColdWarHistory that has been forgotten 1/12
The "Haus am Berg" with the address Geitau 21 was a holiday guesthouse with a view of the Alps. Geitau, a tourist spot between Schliersee and Bayrischzell. But the lonely house on the mountainside had another function. It served as a secret commando bunker for the #Stasi 2/12
The location was perfectly chosen. A few hundred metres away is a field airport. Ideal for rapid troop deployments. The Austrian border is a few kilometres away. Numerous winding paths cross the green border of both states 3/12
Read 12 tweets
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Feb 25, 2021
US spy pub in Hamburg
#thread

Most people know the #Reeperbahn in Hamburg only at night. Numerous bars hide a lot of bizarre stories. A pub served as an important spy place against Poland for a U.S. intelligence agency. The pub even operated to the service 1/7
Hamburg's St. Pauli district attracts many figures - tourists, homeless people, love-seekers and sailors. And it is precisely these that various Western intelligence services are targeting during the Cold War. 2/7
Especially seamen behind the Iron Curtain are important sources of information and possible candidates for espionage in the home country. 1955, COMNAVER (US Naval Forces Germany) wrote a report on a pub: "The tavern served as a contact house for Polish agents in Hamburg" 3/7
Read 7 tweets

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