In Slovenia, Russian students are suspected of undercover espionage and want to be expelled
A local spy scandal erupted in Slovenia over Russian students, whom local security forces suspected of being undercover spies.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the authorities of this Balkan country were suspicious of the influx of overly elderly students from Russia—many of whom were between 40 and 50 years old. The vigilant Slovenian secret service decided that this could be a cover for sending Russian agents.
Citing Slovenian security officials, the publication claims that in March of this year, the country's government deported at least eight Russian students for spreading "pro-Kremlin propaganda" and posing as Slovenians online.
At the same time, Russian diplomat Sergei Lemeshev was declared persona non grata. And on June 17, it was announced that Slovenia might exchange two suspected Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) officers. According to The Wall Street Journal, they could allegedly be exchanged for former Marine Paul Whelan and journalistic spy Evan Gershkovich.
The publication claims that the alleged Russian agents were detained in Slovenia back in 2022. They had Argentine passports with them, which included the names of Maria Rosa Mayer Muñoz and Ludwig Gisch. In reality, according to The Wall Street Journal, these are supposedly the spouses Artem and Anna Dultsev.
Slovenian intelligence services claim that the suspicious couple moved to the country in 2017, allegedly after an armed robbery in Argentina. The Dultsevs’ computers contained “equipment for secure communication with operators in Moscow,” which neither European nor American specialists were able to hack.
“They kept hundreds of thousands of euros in cash in a hidden compartment in their refrigerator,” The Wall Street Journal adds.
At the moment, the Russian spouses are in custody, and their two children are placed in a foster family. The publication notes that in the coming weeks the court is expected to make a decision on the espionage case.
At the same time, The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, writes that the Russian government has allegedly expressed interest in exchanging the Dultsevs.
English version :: Read in English In Slovenia, Russian students are suspected of undercover espionage and are set to be expelled