The Russian Sergei Vladimirovich Cherkasov had assumed a Brazilian identity and called himself Viktor Muller Ferreira. These kinds of intelligence officers are called ‘illegal’ by intelligence services. “Unmasking an illegal is very rare. The GRU has invested for years in disguising its real identity. That is a huge effort”, says Akerboom.
Illegals are difficult to detect by intelligence services because they use a different identity. “Illegal people are a very serious threat to national security, the security of allies and – in this specific case – also to the security and integrity of the ICC.” Several Russian diplomats have recently been deported from the Netherlands on suspicion of espionage, but this is, according to Akerboom, ‘of a completely different order’.
Akerboom cannot say whether this case stands alone. ,,We are not naive and assume that there are several of his caliber walking around. We all know this happens, but it’s rarely visible.”
The arrest took place at the beginning of April, but is only now being announced. This is partly in order not to frustrate the ongoing investigation, says Akerboom. By making this matter public, awareness should also be created, he says. “We want to point out to people and companies that this can happen so that they share those signals when they suspect.”
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We are not naive and assume that there are several of his caliber walking around. We all know this happens, but it’s rarely visible