An officer of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) accused the United Kingdom and British intelligence agencies of stepping up efforts to bring together the Russian opposition abroad.
Speaking to Russian state media on Monday, September 28, the officer said these activities had intensified after Russia launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Accusations against London and intelligence agencies
The FSB officer alleged that London and British intelligence agencies were using certain Russian citizens as instruments of political pressure and hybrid warfare against Russia. The officer claimed that people who had left Russia, sympathized with Ukraine and were ready to take the other side were contributing to these activities.
The officer alleged that London was trying to create the impression within the Russian diaspora that an alternative force existed, and also claimed that organizations described as representing the Russian opposition abroad were under the control of British intelligence agencies.
Claim of a “managed political project”
The officer said such activities could not be carried out without the coordination and control of intelligence agencies. The officer argued that a managed political project stood behind the appearance of self-organization.
The FSB officer alleged that these efforts aimed to give the outside world the impression that an alternative force ready to replace the administration in Moscow was developing within the Russian diaspora. The officer claimed that project participants who had moved outside Russia were being used to create the image of “another Russia.”
The FSB officer also said that counterintelligence knew by name those who wanted Russia to suffer defeat and argued that no amnesty policy would be applied to them.