Vasili Mitrokhin, a Former KGB Archivist, Reveals Details of His Defection to Britain
A new book has shed light on the remarkable story of Vasili Mitrokhin, a KGB archivist who defected to Britain in 1992, bringing with him a treasure trove of top-secret documents on Soviet spies and operations. According to The Guardian, Mitrokhin’s defection was a significant event in the history of espionage, and his story has been revealed in detail by Gordon Corera, a former BBC correspondent, in his new book, The Spy in the Archive: How one man tried to kill the KGB.
Mitrokhin, a former KGB archivist, spent years copying sensitive documents on Soviet spies and operations, which would later form the basis of hundreds of counterintelligence investigations across the world during the 1990s. As noted by The Guardian, his defection was made public in 1999, when a book about his findings was published jointly with the historian Christopher Andrew. However, what has not been widely known is that Mitrokhin had first offered his services to the US, but was turned away multiple times by the CIA.
“The CIA turned Mitrokhin away multiple times, sometimes due to decisions of those on the ground and sometimes due to instructions from headquarters,” Corera said, as reported by The Guardian. “This would be the source of bitter recriminations later when his value became clear.” Mitrokhin was furious that the Americans had turned him down, making it clear to them later that Britain had been his second choice. As The Guardian notes, Mitrokhin’s findings were significant, and his archive of copied documents was exfiltrated separately from his family.
The circumstances of Mitrokhin’s defection are remarkable. In 1992, he travelled to the US embassy in Riga, disguised as a disheveled villager, with a sample of his documents hidden in a scruffy bag. However, he was not taken seriously by the CIA officers, and on one occasion, a cable about him was sent back to headquarters, but was not acted on. As reported by The Guardian, it was only when he approached the British embassy that he was taken seriously, and MI6 officers were sent out to assess his credibility.
Mitrokhin’s notes contained the names of hundreds of agents in the west who had collaborated with the KGB. In Britain, the name that got the most attention was Melita Norwood, who was 87 when the Mitrokhin revelations were published. She admitted passing information about the British nuclear programme to the KGB. There was also detailed historical information about the “illegals”, Moscow’s most secret spies who lived under deep cover disguised as westerners. According to The Guardian, many of Mitrokhin’s original files were opened to the public at an archive in Cambridge in 2014, although some of them have now been closed again due to privacy concerns.
During a meeting in London with an FBI and CIA team, introduced to Mitrokhin by their British counterparts, the defector erupted in anger. “It is your fault that because you turned me down I am here with the British … I always wanted to be in the US,” he said, as quoted in The Guardian. Corera said that he did not ask for or receive any help from MI6 in his research for the book, though it is understood that he was able to speak to former operatives who were involved in the Mitrokhin case.
Corera said that he was drawn to the story of Mitrokhin because he had the feeling that in 1999 the importance of Mitrokhin’s disclosures was somewhat lost, given the sense that the cold war was over and the west had little to fear from Moscow’s spying. “I think he is one of the most under appreciated spies and defectors in cold war and post cold war history,” Corera said, as reported by The Guardian. “It’s only now in hindsight more than 25 years after news of his defection becomes public you can see how important he was.”
The Spy in the Archive: How one man tried to kill the KGB by Gordon Corera, is published by William Collins. The book provides a detailed account of Mitrokhin’s defection and the significance of his disclosures. According to The Guardian, Mitrokhin lived under a new identity in Britain, and died in 2004. His legacy as one of the most consequential Russian defectors in history has been cemented, and his story serves as a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of those who risk everything to bring the truth to light.
The revelations in Corera’s book provide a fascinating insight into the world of espionage and counterintelligence. Mitrokhin’s defection was a significant event in the history of the cold war, and his disclosures had far-reaching consequences. As The Guardian notes, his story is a testament to the power of bravery and determination in the face of overwhelming danger.
In conclusion, Vasili Mitrokhin’s defection to Britain was a remarkable event that has been revealed in detail by Gordon Corera’s new book. According to The Guardian, Mitrokhin’s disclosures had a significant impact on the world of espionage and counterintelligence, and his legacy as one of the most consequential Russian defectors in history has been cemented.
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