In the mid-1990s nearly one quarter of Aeroflot employees were working for Russian intelligence services and the country’s spy agencies diverted ticket revenue for their clandestine projects, creating a dedicated source of revenue outside of the government’s appropriations or oversight.
Russian businessman and former airline Deputy Director for Finance was strangled to death with a dog leash in London two years ago before he testified in court about the airline’s role in spying.
Aeroflot ad from 1970
Now it’s Russia complaining that its Aeroflot executive in London was spying, and they’ve detained the airline’s London Heathrow station manager, claiming that he was spying for Britain’s MI6. He faces up to 20 years in prison on treason charges for allegedly passing ‘secrets’ related to Russia’s political and social – but not aviation – situation.
This kind of stuff has a long history of being done by a variety of countries, but it’s Russia that really loves to physically eliminate its former assets abroad when they think they are a threat or turncoat and want to send a signal.
It wasn’t that many decades ago that PanAm was providing operational cover or assistance to US spy operations and that their station chiefs and other personnel working for the airline abroad were targets for such operations by hostile and other countries too.
I was hoping to get a gig as a spy while working for Allegiant. Amazing the things I might find out about the people in Elko, NV.
I know you love clickbate headlines and half- truth stories that has become so typical for western media (especially when Russia is concerned) but even if you write for American audience, you still should have mentioned that the guy was strangled with a dog leash during sex play by his younger boyfriend or escort (can’t remember exactly) and despite UK mainstream media’s attempt to sensationalize the story his death was deemed accidental. By the way, he was being investigated by the Russian police for embezzlement and corruption allegations at the time that let him lead a very lavish life in London. Anyway, he was heardly a heroic figure you try to make him look!
How did the Finance Deputy testify 2 years after he was strangled to death? THAT’S the story!