Topline
A Dutch intelligence agency said it foiled a Russian attempt to plant a spy in the International Criminal Court who was attempting to pose as a Brazilian intern to gain information about the court’s investigation into Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS – JULY 30: Exterior View of new International Criminal Court building in The … [+]
Key Facts
The Netherlands’ General Intelligence and Security Service, or AVID, said in a statement that a Russian intelligence officer named Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov had lined up an internship at the ICC under the fake identity of a Brazilian citizen known as Viktor Muller Ferreira.
Cherkasov was refused entry into the Netherlands in April and sent back to Brazil, AVID said.
If he had managed to start an internship with the ICC, Cherkasov would have had access to the organization’s building and digital systems and might have even been able to recruit sources and influence criminal proceedings, AVID said.
Key Background
The ICC is investigating possible war crimes, such as crimes against humanity and genocide, committed by Russia during its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan launched the investigation in March after receiving backing for the probe from 39 countries, not including the U.S., which does not officially recognize the ICC.
Surprising Fact:
AVID released Cherkasov’s elaborate cover story, which detailed family and financial woes and even visits to a club that played electronic dance music. The organization said it likely takes years to craft cover identities of this kind.
Further Reading
Top ICC Prosecutor Visits Bucha As Court Investigates War Crimes In Ukraine (Forbes)
Russian spy tried infiltrating war crimes court, Dutch authorities say (The Washington Post)
Dutch Spies Foil Russian Plot to Infiltrate War Crimes Court (Bloomberg)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliecoleman/2022/06/16/dutch-intelligence-catches-russian-spy-attempting-to-infiltrate-war-crimes-court/