In anticipation of Marti Peterson’s participation on our #ReelvsRealCIA panel tomorrow (http://bit.ly/2IWoJok ), here is the Cold War story about her & Aleksandr Ogorodnik, Codename: TRIGON
http://1.usa.gov/28Jp87E pic.twitter.com/304RMzPDNB
You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more
Moscow was a challenging place to operate in 1974. Even finding one’s way around was difficult as Soviet-produced city maps were deliberately inaccurate.
http://bit.ly/2LuYliT
For the nearly 2 years they worked together in the 70s, Marti & TRIGON never met.
#ReelvsRealCIApic.twitter.com/48hnYYdfIZ
Because meeting face-to-face was dangerous & complicated, TRIGON & Marti instead used:
-signal sites
-radio messages
-concealments
-car drops
-dead drops – like fake bricks & dead rats
#ReelvsRealCIApic.twitter.com/SXgeYQOo70
Marti used a purse to conceal supplies & equipment that she transferred to TRIGON via dead drop exchanges.
#ReelvsRealCIApic.twitter.com/vSmUOg6zyK
TRIGON’s position in the Global Affairs Dep’t gave him access to incoming & outgoing classified cables to embassies worldwide. He provided sensitive intel about Soviet foreign policy plans & objectives.
His reporting went to the President & senior US policymakers
#ReelvsRealCIA
June 1977: A Czech penetration of CIA gained knowledge that TRIGON was working with us; info which he passed to Czech Intel who notified the KGB.
#ReelvsRealCIA
15 July 1977: As night fell over Moscow, Marti left a concealment device in a narrow window inside a stone tower on the Krasnoluzhskiy Most—a railroad bridge near Lenin Central Stadium.
It was a trap.
#ReelvsRealCIApic.twitter.com/nkRGbJAClY
A KGB surveillance team was waiting & seized Marti. They took her to Lyubianka Prison, where she was questioned for hours & photographed with the espionage paraphernalia she & TRIGON used.
She was declared persona non grata & sent back to the US immediately.
#ReelvsRealCIApic.twitter.com/5YPS3P7SLG
We later learned that on 22 June 1977, Aleksandr had killed himself after KGB arrest with a pill hidden in a pen he had earlier requested & CIA reluctantly provided.
#ReelvsRealCIApic.twitter.com/jax5Pti0ps
From Marti’s memoir, The Widow Spy: “Opening the pen as if to begin writing, he bit down on the barrel & expired instantly in front of his KGB interrogators. KGB was so intent on his confession they never suspected he had poison….TRIGON died his own way, a hero."
#ReelvsRealCIApic.twitter.com/KIhVYd0Y3x
Although the story of TRIGON ended tragically, the intel Aleksandr passed to Marti & CIA gave US policymakers valuable insights into Soviet foreign policy plans & intentions. Insights & courage like this helped win the Cold War.
http://1.usa.gov/28Jp87E
#ReelvsRealCIApic.twitter.com/X1WfG9HOgI
The CIA is the world’s bloodiest terrorist organization.
#ReelVsRealCIA is a hilarious hashtag considering the CIA doesn’t let a Hollywood movie get made about the CIA without their interference. 


living with the results of that crap now. they're in every "intelligence", police and military group.
Great story about how US got Russian intel during cold war. Best part: KGB never suspected woman op since they all know women just couldn't do that kind of work. Ha. A woman's place is any place she wants to be.
Total lie. KGB’s best agents were women which up until today never were uncovered. Come on! They fought in 2nd WW along men and there were famous female partisans, streets, squares were named after. Total CIA PR Nonsense.
I agree with you to a large extent. Many women apparently were very good at spying. I think a big part of the reason is, as was stated, that as a culture people didn't expect women to spy. I'm glad to see women get recognition for their very dangerous efforts.
Or you know, as you've just said given she was the first, they knew the US was too sexist to use them.
Until Claudia arrived in the US...
@TheAmericansFXpic.twitter.com/eHcjexZ4Bf
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.