Russian agent who revealed the names of ten spies in the U.S., found guilty of high treason
Moscow military court found him guilty of high treason Monday on a former official of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), which left the country and revealed the names of the ten spies, arrested a year ago in the United States, according to Interfax news agency.
Aleksandr Poteev, found guilty of high treason and desertion, received the sentence requested by prosecutors last week. And his was withdrawn and the rank of colonel. His trial was conducted behind closed doors.Poteev's lawyer announced that will challenge the decision to get a milder sentence.Alexander was Deputy Head of Department Poteev America Directorate "S" (inactive networks) of SVR and have direct access to all information agents.According to the text of the decision, Colonel Poteev revealed U.S. intelligence agents funding mechanisms Russians and their means of communication during his trips abroad and meetings in Moscow.He fled Russia Moscow-Minsk taking a train. Later, "has a false passport, with U.S. special services, he went to Germany, then in the United States, where he was hiding so far."Before fleeing, he sent a message to his wife to warn her that will never return."Mary, trying to take it calmly, not leave temporarily but forever. I do not want but are having. I want to start from scratch and I will try to help children" would have written it in SMS, according text read by the judge.Russian passport holder that allowed him to escape Poteev under a false identity was questioned by judges and said he never lost the document, adding that presented at the American Embassy for a visa.Asked by the Russian embassy would not say where is Alexander Poteev, according to the court.Sources in the Russian intelligence services revealed in November that senior betrayal of SVR, which dealt a serious blow to Moscow with the arrest of ten agents "inactive" in the United States.These agents were later handed over to Moscow during the Cold War a worthy exchange.
One of the agents, Anna Chapman, became famous in Russia, was interrogated in the process and recognized a photo Colonel Poteev as a person who knew of his activities in the United States, said the judge.
Aleksandr Poteev fled shortly before the visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the United States in June 2010, according to Russian media.
In December, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, a former agent of Soviet foreign intelligence service, which was then part of the KGB, qualified as "pig" on runagate, assuring that he will regret it "a thousand times" betrayal.