{{Short description|Soviet and Russian intelligence officer who defected to the United States}} {{Family name hatnote|Nikolayevich|Poteyev|lang=Eastern Slavic}} {{Infobox person | name = Aleksandr Poteyev | native_name_lang = ru | native_name = Александр Потеев | birth_name = | image = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|03|07}} | birth_place = Brest Region, Belarusian SSR, USSR {{small|(present-day Belarus)}} | occupation = Former Deputy Head of Directorate "S" | spouse = Marina | children = 2 }}
'''Aleksandr Nikolayevich Poteyev'''{{efn|{{langx|ru|Александр Николаевич Потеев|{{transliteration|ru|Aleksandr Nikolayevich Poteyev}}}}}} (born 1952) is a former Colonel and Deputy Head of Directorate "S" of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (''SVR'') who revealed a hidden network of Russian spies known as the Illegals Program. He is believed to be living in the United States under an assumed identity.
==Early life== Poteyev was born in the Brest Region of the Republic of Belarus on March 7, 1952. His father, Nikolai Pavlovich Poteyev, was recognized as a Hero of the USSR.<ref>{{cite news | last=Alexandrov | first=German | title=Defector of the SVR Poteyev continues to betray Russia | date=May 16, 2011 | url=http://www.rosbalt.ru/moscow/2011/05/16/849215.html | work=rosbalt.ru }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Moshkin | first1=Mikhail | last2=Baltacheva | first2=Marina | title=A Traitor Poteyev Could Go Deep Underground | date=July 7, 2016 | url=https://rusnext.ru/recent_opinions/1467888893 | work=rosnext.ru }}</ref>
==Military career== Poteyev's career began in the 1970s when he enlisted in the army, later joining the KGB and serving in Afghanistan as part of elite special forces units. In the 1980s, he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his service in Kabul.<ref>{{cite news | last=Alexandrov | first=German | title=SVR defector Poteyev continues to betray Russia | date=May 16, 2011 | url=https://www.rosbalt.ru/news/2011-05-16/perebezhchik-iz-svr-poteev-prodolzhaet-predavat-rossiyu-3860982 | work=rosbalt.ru }}</ref> After returning from Afghanistan, he graduated from the Academy of Foreign Intelligence.<ref>{{cite news | title=Information is being verified. In the US, the defector who "surrendered" Anna Chapman died? | date=July 7, 2016 | url=https://aif.ru/politics/world/informaciya_proveryaetsya_v_ssha_umer_perebezhchik_sdavshiy_annu_chapman | work=aif.ru }}</ref> In the 1990s, he began traveling to several Western countries under the guise of a representative from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Osborn | first1=Andrew | title=Ex-KGB soldier named as double agent who exposed Anna Chapman spy ring | date=November 18, 2010 | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8143693/Ex-KGB-soldier-named-as-double-agent-who-exposed-Anna-Chapman-spy-ring.html | work=telegraph.co.uk }}</ref>
==Recruitment by the United States==
Around 1999, Poteyev was working under cover at the Russian mission in New York when he offered his services as a walk-in to the FBI.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://lander.odessa.ua/doc/The%20Skripal%20Files%20by%20Mark%20Urban.pdf | title=The Skripal Files | last=Urban | first=Mark | date=October 2, 2018 | website=Secret Wars | page=145 | access-date=June 8, 2019 }}</ref> Alternatively, it was reported he began working in secret for the CIA after being approached by the Internal Revenue Service on allegations of underpayment of taxes.<ref>{{ cite news | last1=Weiss | first1=Michael | date=July 9, 2016 | title=Is This American Spy Dead? Or Was He Ever Real? | url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/is-this-american-spy-dead-or-was-he-ever-real | work=thedailybeast.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Alexandrov | first=German | title=SVR defector: I'm starting a new life | date=June 27, 2011 | url=https://www.rosbalt.ru/moscow/2011/06/27/863355.html | work=rosbalt.ru }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Kondrashov | first=Alexander | title=Judas from the Ninth Circle of Hell | date=March 23, 2011 | url=https://argumenti.ru/espionage/n281/98577 | work=argumenti.ru }}</ref> In 2000, he was appointed Deputy Head of Directorate "S" of the SVR, which oversaw a network of Russian spies in the United States.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Isachenkov | first1=Vladimir | title=Alexander Poteyev, Russian Intelligence Officer, Convicted Of Betraying U.S. Spy Ring Including Anna Chapman | date=June 27, 2011 | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/27/alexander-poteyev-russian-intelligence-officer-convicted-betraying-anna-chapman-spy-ring_n_885255.html | work=huffingtonpost.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630233040/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/27/alexander-poteyev-russian-intelligence-officer-convicted-betraying-anna-chapman-spy-ring_n_885255.html |archive-date=June 30, 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Around this time, he is said to have received between $2–5 million for information he provided to the CIA.<ref>{{cite book | last1=Russo | first1=Gus | last2=Dezenhall | first2=Eric | date=October 2, 2018 | title=Best of Enemies: The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War | location=New York, NY | publisher=Hachette Book Group, Inc. | page=233 | isbn=978-1-5387-6131-1 | lccn=2017056747 }}</ref>
==Defection to the United States== In June 2010, Poteyev fled from Russia as lie detector tests were being prepared to find a mole within the SVR. He traveled through Belarus, Ukraine, and Germany before arriving at CIA headquarters in the US on June 26, 2010.<ref>{{cite news | last=Loiko | first=Sergei | title=Former Russian spymaster convicted of treason | date=June 28, 2011 | url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2011-jun-28-la-fg-russia-spies-20110628-story.html | work=latimes.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Walter | first=Pincus | title=The Unraveling of Russian Spies | date=July 6, 2022 | url=https://www.thecipherbrief.com/column_article/the-unraveling-of-russian-spies | work=thecipherbrief.com }}</ref> The following day, the FBI began arresting the Russian spy ring, including prominent figures like Anna Chapman.<ref>{{cite news | title=Ten Alleged Secret Agents Arrested in the United States | date=June 28, 2010 | url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ten-alleged-secret-agents-arrested-united-states | work=justice.gov }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=FBI: 10 Russian Spies Arrested in U.S. | date=June 28, 2010 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-10-russian-spies-arrested-in-us | work=cbsnews.com }}</ref> He is suspected of also providing intelligence on Sergey Cherepanov, a Madrid-based Russian Illegal,<ref>{{cite news | last=Briançon | first=Pierre | title=The Spanish Story of a Russian 'Illegal' | date=June 16, 2016 | url=https://www.politico.eu/interactive/the-spanish-story-of-a-russian-illegal-russian-spy-moscow/ | work=politico.eu }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Sengupta | first=Ken | title=Sergei Skripal: Mystery surrounds 'Spanish connection' linking ex-Russian agent to spying operations across world | date=March 13, 2018 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sergei-skripal-russia-putin-salisbury-poisoning-spain-madrid-spy-connection-a8254281.html | work=independent.co.uk }}</ref> as well as Andreas and Heidrun Anschlag, a German-based Russian spy couple.<ref>{{cite news | last=Connolly | first=Kate | title=Married pair alleged to be Russian 'cold war' type spies on trial in Germany | date=January 15, 2013 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/15/married-pair-russian-spies-germany | work=theguardian.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Moscow allegedly wants to bring spies back from Germany | date=July 15, 2013 | url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/russland-will-spione-aus-deutschland-zurueckholen-a-911135.html | work=spiegel.de }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Germany Frees Russian Spy Andreas Anschlag | date=June 3, 2015 | url=https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/556f42d49a7947b32dc38f4d | work=rbc.ru }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Fitsanakis | first=Joseph | title=Dutch diplomat arrested for spying for Russia | date=June 27, 2011 | url=https://intelnews.org/2012/06/27/01-1021 | work=intelnews.org }}</ref>
==Russian reaction== In November 2010, Russian news agency ''Kommersant'' reported that the defector who betrayed the Russian spies was Colonel Shcherbakov of the SVR.<ref>{{cite news | title=Fresh Betrayal | last1=Soloviev | first1=Vladimir | last2=Trifonov | first2=Vladislav | date=November 11, 2010 | url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1535406 | work=kommersant.com }}</ref> Days later, a rival news agency, ''RIA Novosti'', reported that the actual defector was Poteyev.<ref>{{cite news | title=The culprit of the "spy scandal" was Colonel Poteyev | date=November 15, 2010 | url=https://ria.ru/20101115/296675482.html | work=ria.ru }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Rawnsley | first=Adam | title=Did One of These Russian Colonels Sell Out The Sexy Spy? | date=November 19, 2010 | url=https://www.wired.com/2010/11/did-one-of-these-russian-colonels-sell-out-the-sexy-spy | work=wired.com }}</ref> In 2011, he was found guilty of desertion and high treason ''in absentia'', and was sentenceed to 25 years in prison.<ref>{{cite news | last=Parfitt | first=Tom | title=Russian double agent sentenced in absentia to 25 years in prison | date=June 27, 2011 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/27/russian-double-agent-tried-absence | work=theguardian.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Kononenko | first=Maxim | title=For a quarter of a century | date=June 27, 2011 | url=https://vz.ru/society/2011/6/27/502683.html | work=vz.ru }}</ref> In 2016, Russian news agency ''Interfax'' falsely reported that Poteyev had died in the United States.<ref>{{cite news | title=Russian Foreign Intelligence Service not commenting on Poteyev's possible death in U.S (Part 2) | date=July 7, 2016 | url=http://interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=686542 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608230728/http://interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=686542 | archive-date=June 8, 2019 | url-status=dead | work=interfax.com }}</ref> He is on Russia's international wanted list.<ref>{{cite news | title=Poteyev will be wanted until his death is officially confirmed | url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/517358 | date=July 7, 2016 | work=interfax.ru }}</ref>
==Residence at Trump Tower== Since his defection, Poteyev has received a number of unsolicited visitors at his condominium at Trump Towers in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=textifire |number=871982011170385920 |date=June 5, 2017 |title="Aleksandr" is 'dead', born 3 March 1952 (says Google); but FL guy is "Alexander", born 7 March 1952, living in Trump Tower III. Curious. | archive-url=https://archive.today/20200301011953/https://twitter.com/textifire/status/871982011170385920 | archive-date=March 1, 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media | date=November 10, 2024 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n7ReAAmr14 | title=Russian defectors, Putin critics suffer mysterious, violent deaths | time=16:00 | via=YouTube | work=60 Minutes }}</ref> In 2014, he was approached by a suspected Russian hit man on a valid U.S. visa.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Goldman | first1=Adam | last2=Barnes | first2=Julian | last3=Schmidt | first3=Michael | last4=Apuzzo | first4=Matt | title=U.S. Spies Rush to Protect Defectors After Skripal Poisoning | date=September 13, 2018 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/13/us/politics/russian-informants-cia-protection.html | work=nytimes.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Barry | first=Ellen | title=Spy Poisoned in Britain Fed MI6 Agents Secrets on a Putin Ally, New Book Claims | date=October 1, 2018 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/01/world/europe/spy-russia-britain-putin.html | work=nytimes.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=The attempted assassination of a Russian spy defector | date=October 2, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHBwnfE0pN8 | via=YouTube }}</ref> In 2017, journalists for ''BuzzFeed News'' knocked on his door, but were turned away.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Campbell | first1=Alex | last2=Leopold | first2=Jason | last3=Blake | first3=Heidi | title=This Russian Double-Agent Is A Lot Less Dead Than He Seemed | date=October 3, 2018 | url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/alexcampbell/alexander-poteyev-cia-vladimir-putin-russian-spy-undercover | work=buzzfeednews.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Korelina | first=Olga | title=The agent who handed over Anna Chapman and other illegal immigrants to the Americans was declared dead two years ago. He actually lives in the US: Buzzfeed | date=October 4, 2018 | url=https://meduza.io/feature/2018/10/04/agenta-kotoryy-sdal-amerikantsam-annu-chapman-i-drugih-nelegalov-dva-goda-nazad-ob-yavili-mertvym-na-samom-dele-on-zhivet-v-ssha-buzzfeed | work=meduza.io }}</ref> In 2020, Hector Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes, a Mexican-Singaporean microbiologist, was arrested by the FBI after he was caught performing reconnaissance at the Trump Tower complex as part of a Russian assassination plot.<ref>{{cite news | title=Individual Arrested for Acting Within the U.S. on Behalf of the Russian Government Without Notifying the Attorney General | date=February 18, 2020 | url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/individual-arrested-acting-within-us-behalf-russian-government-without-notifying-attorney | work=justice.gov }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Man Who Acted as Russian Agent Sentenced to Federal Prison Term | date=June 22, 2022 | url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-who-acted-russian-agent-sentenced-federal-prison-term | work=justice.gov }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first1=Ronen | last1=Bergman | first2=Adam | last2=Goldman | first3=Julian | last3=Barnes | title=Russia Sought to Kill Defector in Florida |date=June 19, 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/19/us/politics/russia-spy-assassination.html | work=nytimes.com }}</ref>
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Poteyev, Aleksandr}} Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:People from Brest, Belarus Category:KGB officers Category:Foreign Intelligence Service (Russia) officers Category:People of the Central Intelligence Agency Category:Russian people of Belarusian descent Category:Belarusian emigrants to Russia Category:Belarusian emigrants to the United States Category:Russian emigrants to the United States Category:Fugitives wanted by Russia Category:People convicted of treason against Russia Category:20th-century Belarusian people Category:21st-century Belarusian people Category:20th-century Russian people Category:21st-century Russian people