European Parliament member Tatjana Zdanoka from Latvia worked for the Fifth Directorate of the FSB and reported to two Russian liaison officers between 2004 and 2017, as shown by an Insider investigation.
According to Insider, leaked messages between Zdanoka and the two Russian officers include explicit and detailed reports describing her activities as a European legislator, particularly in terms of promoting pro-Kremlin sentiments in the Baltic region.
The correspondence includes arranging physical meetings in Moscow or Brussels between Zdanoka and her Russian liaison officer, as well as requests for funding from sources in Russia to support her political activities in Latvia and the European Parliament.
At least once, she requested money to organize a commemorative event for the victory of the Red Army in World War II. In an email response to Insider, Zdanoka stated: “I cannot consider this text as questions addressed to me, as it is based on information that you are supposed to have and by definition, should not have.”
Insider has confirmed that the two liaison officers were officers of the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB), the successor agency of the Soviet-era KGB.
According to the emails, the first liaison officer was a veteran FSB officer from the central directorate in St. Petersburg, Dmitry Gladey, aged 74, who coordinated with Zdanoka from 2004 to 2013.
After 2013, Zdanoka was in regular contact with Sergei Beltyukov, an FSB operative since 1993.
She told Insider that she had met Gladey in the 1970s while skiing at a holiday base in the North Caucasus. In an email from October 3, 2006, Gladey wrote to Zdanoka: “I am arriving at MIDI on Wednesday at 12:40 and will depart at 17:30,” to which Zdanoka replied: “Great, I will come to MIDI – let’s meet on the train platform. If we miss each other, let’s meet at the station’s main entrance.”
In the spring of 2007, Zdanoka organized a three-day training camp for pro-Russian organizations labeled as “anti-fascist” in Latvia and Estonia.
In emails, Zdanoka requested funding for various political activities, including organizing a rally to commemorate the victory of the Red Army in World War II. On April 9, 2010, she sent Gladey a plan to promote Victory Day celebrations in Latvia.
She requested 6,000 dollars for purchasing ribbons to distribute on the streets of Latvia and making a documentary about Latvian veterans participating in the 65th-anniversary celebration of the liberation of Vienna by the Allies.
Zdanoka continued to be coordinated by Gladey at least until 2013, after which Beltyukov became her new liaison officer.
On September 12, 2013, Gladey sent Zdanoka his final report, titled “Speeches and Resolutions,” to her new temporary email, ser2280@mail.ru. Subsequently, he introduced the European Parliament member to a man named “Sergey Krasin,” who used a similar email – serg0680@mail.ru. “Krasin” became her new liaison officer.
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