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Russia uses intimidation and espionage to recruit opponents in Europe

2026-03-30 21:39:59Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Russia uses intimidation and espionage to recruit opponents in Europe

A large set of leaked messages and recordings has revealed the tactics of Russian secret services to recruit, pressure and manage informants within opposition communities who have fled Russia.

The documents, which were shared with POLITICO, provide a rare insight into how the FSB and other Russian intelligence agencies use intimidation and manipulation to obtain information on political opponents.

One of the most detailed cases comes from a 21-year-old student from Moscow, nicknamed Ivan, who was threatened by Russian agents after returning from a visit to his parents in 2023. The agents offered him a clear choice: either become an informant for the opposition group Vesna, or face up to 15 years in prison for participating in an “extremist” group.

The leaked messages show a method known as “good cop, bad cop,” in which one agent tried to persuade Ivan by offering help and protection, while the other used threats and psychological pressure. The agents sought information not only on Vesna’s activities, but also on networks that helped Russian immigrants in Europe, including language teachers and foreign ministry officials.

One of the agent's messages warned: "Don't make me chase you."

Ivan, however, managed to play a double game: he reported false or harmless information and used the documents provided to flee Russia. In early 2025, he managed to arrive in Spain, where he is currently awaiting asylum.

Experts emphasize that this type of long-term recruitment of informants within opposition communities is part of Moscow's strategy to keep dissidents under surveillance even abroad, using pressure on family members and the unstable situation of emigrants.

Andrei Soldatov, a Russian intelligence expert, says that for the Kremlin, even opponents in exile could pose a political threat in the future.

Recruitment cases, such as that of Ivan or Igor Rogov in Poland, have created an atmosphere of distrust within opposition communities. Opposition activists and politicians, such as Anastasia Shevchenko, point out that “not knowing who to trust makes the work impossible.”

European experts warn that intelligence services must be on high alert to protect Russian immigrants from infiltration, but also to facilitate their integration into host societies, as integration is “the best vaccine against illegal activity,” according to Kirill Shamiev of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

This leak of messages offers a rare glimpse into the manipulation, intimidation and espionage that Russian secret services use to keep opponents under control even outside the country's borders.


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