Real-Life Spies: Whither Russia?

When the ten members of the Illegals Program arrived back in Russia, on 24 July 2010, they met with Prime Minister (and former President) Vladimir Putin. Together, they sang traditional Russian songs, including From Where The Motherland Begins. Putin claimed that 'betrayal' had forced the downfall of the spies. Whether that is true or not - and indeed the Kremlin considers it a possibility - the ramifications of the Illegals Program extend far beyond the new lives of ten former spies.

The arrests could hardly have come at a worse time. They occured just three days after the visit of President Medvedev to the United States, with Barack Obama promising that he would not "look upon the Russian Federation as an enemy". Furthermore, America confirmed that it would not expel Russian diplomats, and Russia - wisely - made no attempt to deny the espionage. Did America let Russia off lightly? During the days of the Cold War, any spying whatsoever would have been met with the harshest punishment. It's likely that, in an attempt to keep US-Russia relations relatively stable, Obama decided no further action was likely. While not to dismiss the efforts of the Illegals for their homeland, this was not espionage on the scale of Ames or Hanssen - and so the Americans seem inclined to let the matter rest, at least for now. It is certain that the next occasion of catching a spy - whether it be in America or Russia - will not be dealt with as comfortably as this.

As part of the spy swap, Russia was induced to give up four prisoners. One of these, Igor Sutyagin, was alleged to have collected data on Russian subs and missile early-warning systems, and was serving fifteen years hard labour in a Siberian camp. Sergei Skripal was convicted of giving MI5 names of Russian agents, and was serving thirteen years, while Alexandr Zaporozhsky had served seven for working with the Americans. The fourth man, Gennady Vasilenko, was suspected of being a double agent. The consensus was that America had gotten the better end of the deal, with high-profile and important prisoners being released, in return for the ten Illegals who were, after all, infamous in their capture. Russia could hardly be seen to be ungenerous in it's offerings for the swap, given the political quagmire she already found herself in.

It is likely that no matter the seriousness with which this incident is viewed in Washington, it will be even more closely scrutinised in Moscow. The ten Illegals are taking lie detector tests as part of an extensive Kremlin debriefing - with the thrilling possibility that dobule-crossing is suspected as a partial reason for their failure. Russia has also been thoroughly embarassed on the world stage - not just by the timing, but also by the fact that the spies were caught at all. Under Putin - a former KGB agent - as President, relations were at an all-time low between the Motherland and the Land Of The Free. Admitting that a spy ring is yours just as relations are beginning to improve is not the best way to raise them up again.

But, of course, it is not just in America that the problems lie. MI5 is apparently 'seriously concerned' that Anna Chapman may have influenced a similar sleeper ring to be set up in Britian. And the man under the alias of Christopher Metsos, last seen in Cyprus, is still out there. As the former head of the Security Services, Sir Stephen Lander, says, "They [the Russians] are part of a machine... and the machine is a very professional and serious one." Perhaps the true purpose of this machine is yet to be seen.