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
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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
Use tobasco sauce.
Yep ...I know this ratus ratus rus story too.... From history CD set "spycraft"......great listening when nothing else is on TV.
Cool deal.
Uh, can you clarify if the adjective “fake” also applies to the dead rats? If not, ewww.
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