‘Don’t make me chase you’: Leaked texts reveal how Russian spies recruit, pressure and run their informants

(Eva Hartog – Politico) Just before New Year’s Eve 2024, as many Russians were calling family and friends with holiday wishes, a 21-year-old computer science student living in Moscow received a very different kind of greeting. “Fate keeps steering you away, from criminal persecution, from the army. I hope everything works out for you,” the caller said. The well-wishes then took a darker turn: “Don’t forget your homeland. And share more information.”. The student — who we have agreed to call Ivan because of fears for his safety — felt intimidated, but not surprised. Throughout the previous year he’d been harassed by the same man and his colleague, both Russian intelligence officers. It had begun 16 months earlier, after Ivan had been detained by them and offered a deal: Inform on his acquaintances in anti-Kremlin circles, many of whom had fled abroad, or go to prison. The New Year’s call is part of a cache of text messages and recorded conversations between Ivan and his handlers that were shared with POLITICO. – ‘Don’t make me chase you’: Leaked texts reveal how Russian spies recruit, pressure and run their informants – POLITICO