A former Russian prisoner, turned into an agent of the Moscow special services, is at the center of a diplomatic confrontation between several European countries and the Kremlin. According to The Washington Post, it is about Iaroslav Mihailov, 37 years old, who is said to have been involved in organizing attacks with explosive devices in Western Europe, at the command of the Russian services.
Mihailov, using a fake passport, took refuge in Azerbaijan after allegedly coordinating a network of saboteurs who sent several trap parcels through DHL, equipped with timers and flammable compounds based on magnesium. These were shipped from Lithuania in July 2024, to destinations in Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The fires triggered in warehouses did not cause casualties, but the CIA believes that the actions would have served as a test for future attacks on transatlantic air routes, with the destination of the USA or Canada.
Western security officials claim that Mihailov has a privileged status in the Russian intelligence apparatus. The simultaneous involvement of the FSB, SVR, and GRU in the efforts to bring him back to Moscow suggests his strategic importance. Russian authorities are pressuring Baku to prevent his extradition to Poland, a country that has issued an international arrest warrant, supported by the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Lithuania.
A senior European official involved in the investigation told The Washington Post that Mihailov is considered “the most important agent pursued by authorities” at this time, due to his crucial role as an intermediary between GRU officers in Russia and the perpetrators of the attacks in Europe.
Mihailov’s legal situation remains uncertain, as the diplomatic dispute intensifies. Azerbaijan is under increasing pressure, being forced to choose between Russia’s interests and the insistent requests of Western allies.
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