News item | 16-06-2022 | 16:04
The AIVD prevented a Russian intelligence officer from performing work at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The man works for the Russian military intelligence service GRU and used a Brazilian cover identity, with which he traveled from Brazil to the Netherlands.
The AIVD has classified him as a threat to national security and has informed the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) about this via an official message. On this basis, the intelligence officer was refused entry to the Netherlands in April. He has also been declared an unwanted alien. He was sent back to Brazil on the next flight. The ICC was also informed about this case via an official message.
Illegals: long-trained intelligence officers
The Russian intelligence officer posed as Brazilian Viktor Muller Ferreira (born April 4, 1989), when he is actually Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov (born September 11, 1985). Cherkasov used a well-thought-out cover, concealing all his ties to Russia, the GRU in particular.
This type of intelligence officer is better known as an illegal: someone who has received very long and extensive training. Illegals are difficult for intelligence agencies to identify because they use an alias identity. In this way they can often operate under the radar for a long time and continue to carry out intelligence activities. By posing as foreigners, illegals can access information that is inaccessible to a Russian person. In addition to the GRU, the Russian intelligence service SVR also deploys illegals.
The GRU mainly focuses on military intelligence, but also collects intelligence on, for example, politics or technology and carries out influence operations.
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court is currently investigating possible war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. In addition, the ICC investigates war crimes during the Russian war in Georgia in 2008. Covert access to this information can therefore be of added value for the Russian intelligence services.
The illegal would have started working as an intern at the ICC and would have had access to the building and the systems of the ICC.
Potentially very high threat
The AIVD works together with the MIVD and other partners to limit damage to national security and the security and integrity of international organisations. The threat posed by the intelligence officer was potentially very high.
If this person had been given the opportunity to actually do work at the ICC, he could have gathered intelligence here, spot (or recruit) resources and gain access to digital systems.
In this way, the man could have met the GRU’s intelligence needs to a significant extent. He may also have been able to influence criminal cases within the ICC.
Complex cover
Illegals are a very serious threat to national security, the security of allies and – in this particular case – also the security and integrity of the ICC. Vigilance for these and other forms of intelligence threat is of great importance, certainly in the light of current international developments.
The extensive and complex cover of the intelligence officer has been appended to this news item in Dutch, English and Portuguese. This document provides more insight into the working methods of this Russian intelligence officer. It usually takes years to build this kind of cover.