(MENAFN) New court documents reveal that a suspected Russian intelligence officer, who was arrested last year after allegedly trying to infiltrate the International Criminal Court, was in the U.S. gathering information on U.S. foreign policy before his cover was blown. The suspect, Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov, lived under the alias Victor Muller Ferreira and attended graduate school in Washington for two years. He has been charged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for acting as an illegal agent of a Russian intelligence service and faces several fraud charges.
Cherkasov was arrested last April in Brazil for fraud and has been imprisoned there since then. Russia has been trying to extradite him, claiming that he is wanted in Russia for narcotics trafficking. However, the FBI suspects that Russia is using the narcotics charges as a cover to bring their spy home.
This recent development provides additional insight into Cherkasov's activities and highlights the ongoing threat posed by Russian intelligence in the United States. The case also raises questions about the extent of Russian espionage activities and the measures being taken to counter them.
The charges against Cherkasov underscore the seriousness with which the U.S. government views illegal espionage activities. It is clear that the U.S. is taking steps to identify and apprehend foreign agents who operate within its borders. While the U.S. has a long history of espionage and intelligence gathering, the government is committed to ensuring that foreign agents are not able to operate with impunity.
As the investigation into Cherkasov's activities continues, it is likely that more information will come to light about Russia's espionage efforts in the U.S. and around the world. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining vigilant against foreign threats and of the need to take strong action to protect national security.
MENAFN26032023000045014228ID1105862306
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.