Emma Yeomans, News reporter, The Times, talks about an alleged Russian spy who was an Afghan refugee working in the British Foreign Office. The podcast discusses his meetings with top officials and his denial of all allegations. The episode delves into his journey as an asylum seeker, loss of citizenship, and the flaws in national security assessments.
The case of C2, an Afghan refugee accused of being a Russian spy, revolves around the question of his loyalty to the UK and whether his British citizenship was wrongly revoked.
C2's alleged employment with British intelligence agencies, his contacts with Russian officials, and the passing of cash bribes raise questions about his involvement with Russian intelligence.
Deep dives
C2: An Afghan Refugee Accused of Spying for Russia
This podcast episode discusses the case of C2, an Afghan refugee who is accused of being a Russian spy. C2 claims to have worked for British intelligence, including GCHQ, MI6, and the Foreign Office. He denies being a Russian agent, but there are allegations that he had contacts with two Russian military attachés who are believed to be GRU officers. C2's British citizenship was revoked, but he managed to board a British evacuation flight from Kabul and was eventually arrested and released on bail in the UK. The case revolves around whether his citizenship was wrongly revoked and the question of his loyalty to the UK.
Complexities of C2's Background and Work
C2's background includes growing up in socialist Afghanistan, being smuggled to Russia, and eventually settling in the UK as an Afghan refugee. He claimed to have worked as an interpreter and translator for the legal system and police, later progressing to more interesting jobs with GCHQ, MI6, and the Foreign Office. The government neither confirms nor denies his employment with these agencies, and there are disagreements regarding his security clearances. His alleged contacts with Russian officials and the passing of cash bribes raise questions about his involvement with Russian intelligence.
Challenges and Limitations in the Case
Due to the sensitive nature of the case and national security concerns, there are limitations on what can be disclosed and the level of detail that can be provided. The court proceedings involve open and closed sessions, and the appellant is referred to as C2 to protect his identity. The legal arguments revolve around assessing the risk C2 poses to UK national security and the possibility of his involvement with the GRU. The case raises questions about his British citizenship, the accuracy of intelligence assessments, and the contention surrounding his loyalty and employment history.
An alleged Russian spy was an Afghan refugee who had worked his way into the British Foreign Office. According to court documents, he had met two Prime Ministers, the King and Prince William during the course of his work. The man, known only as ‘C2’ denies all the allegations.
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