An art gallery, a start-up and Argentine passports: the story of elite Russian spies detained in Slovenia

A yellow house with red tiles and a brown gate. Address: Primosiseva 35. In the garden, a majestic magnolia. The house did not attract attention. It’s just like the others in the neighborhood CornoosIn the suburbs LjubljanaCapital Slovenia. Inside, a typical family – mother, father and two children – and a normal life, not too flashy. she, Maria Rosa Mayor Muñoz, devoted his time to the online sale of works of art. He, Ludwig GishInstead, he is a Start Technology called DSM & IT is dedicated to providing a Software Organize your customers’ mailboxes. His young children led a school life like other children in the neighborhood, which only made it difficult to learn the language quickly.

They reached this new destination in 2017 with the enthusiasm and obvious skepticism of any immigrant.

The story they both repeated every time they asked him why they chose that destination was that they were tired of living insecure. Argentina. “The streets are rough there”, they told their neighbors without mentioning much. It’s not necessary: ​​Google News is all about it Latin America, insecurity is one of the most pressing issues. Their registered address Argentina O’Higgins 2191In City of Buenos Aires.

English magazine Guardian He interviewed a dozen neighbors. Everyone had the same opinion about these Argentinians spoke Spanish at home A little English for others. “They are kind“”good”. There is nothing to suspect. One afternoon in the first days of last December, a task force barged into the house, conducted a thorough search and arrested them. A lot of money was also seized. The children, unaware of what was really happening, were transferred to a social care unit.

Disturbing information began to leak out: both were part Kremlin spy network. Russians with Argentine passports. “Ljubljana sources said this week Guardian ‘Maria and Ludwig’ are actually elite Russian spies known as ‘Outlaws’. The arrests came after Slovenia received a tip from foreign intelligence”, notes the British newspaper. The skepticism of the Slovenian authorities goes further. Privileged sources indicated that it will have two members SVRForeign Intelligence Service Russia.

would have chosen Slovenia For one simple reason: little counterintelligence and easy access – without bothersome borders – to other European countries. In fact, its activity took place more than outside the country. MayorHe was also a constant traveler according to his social networks. He did it under the guise of promoting his art gallery and online sales. Suspicions grow about his connections with other spies in Europe. as his wife, Kish He also used his job to travel. However, his Argentine passport had a peculiarity: it said he was born Namibia In 1984.

Last February, when the news first broke, the Slovenian Foreign Minister, Tanja FajonIt confirmed that two foreigners had been detained on charges of espionage.Members of the Russian secret services“and suspected of having acted”against the national interests of Slovenia”. In recent days, he added more information to what was already clear: “They are not Argentine”.

“Illegal” agents are those who have not been notified by embassies Mayor And Kishwho acted without visible ties to Moscow. They are trained for years to pass themselves off as foreigners, and then they infiltrate different structures and are sent to other countries. Even their own children do not know that their parents are Russian..

In April 2022, Slovenia — a member of the European Union and NATO — expelled 33 Russians who worked in the country’s embassy. Ljubljana After Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Other countries followed the same evacuation.”Diplomats” he ordered after the bloody attack Vladimir Putin.

“The suspects were members of foreign intelligence services who used illegally obtained foreign identification documents to work under false identities in Slovenia and secretly collect information.” he pointed out to the media Drago MenacalijaA spokesperson for the Slovenian police.

But the story does not end there. Hours after they were arrested – along with money suspected to have been used to pay off other spy agents – The Kremlin It is said to have contacted Slovenian authorities to confirm the nationalities of its members and prevent the arrests from being made public. But they couldn’t do anything. Now, according to the same sources, Moscow would engage in intensive secret negotiations with Western powers and exchange spies for interested and captured prisoners in Russian hands..

Both are in custody for questioning. Those who were able to see them up close after their arrests noted that they were professional and stoic. If convicted, he could face up to eight years in prison. “They have taken it for granted. It is clear that they are professionals. But they don’t talk. Now let’s see how important these people are to Russia”, pointed out an anonymous source.

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