DISINFO: The supposed GRU agents arrested in the Netherlands were actually mere IT experts
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
  • Outlet: ntv.ru ( archived) *
  • Date of publication: October 14, 2018
  • Outlet language(s): Russian
  • Countries / regions discussed: The Netherlands

DISINFO: The supposed GRU agents arrested in the Netherlands were actually mere IT experts

SUMMARY

In the Netherlands, the supposed GRU agents arrested outside the OPCW HQ were actually IT experts. They were checking the security of the Russian embassy’s communications, which had been bugged. That they were by the OPCW building is coincidence – the Russian embassy is just across the road.

RESPONSE

The Dutch authorities presented numerous evidence about the real identity of the GRU agents and the real purpose of their trip - like taxi receipts for the trip from the GRU building in Moscow to the airport, passport scans, and the specialist equipment which the GRU agents tried to destroy when they were caught. See e.g. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/04/netherlands-halted-russian-cyber-attack-on-chemical-weapons-body

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Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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