The most serious espionage incident since the Cold War: the Italian press described the arrest of a Navy captain when he sold NATO classified documents to Russia for 5,000 euros. Such actions also pose security risks to the Baltic States, as Italy is one of the NATO countries patrolling our airspace.
Walter Biot, 54, captain of an Italian naval frigate, was arrested in a parking lot on the southern outskirts of Rome after selling secret documents to a Russian military official, an embassy employee, for 5,000 euros. He was arrested, but the Russian remained at large due to the diplomat’s immunity.
Biota was detained. According to the arrest warrant, the police removed a USB flash drive containing 181 secret photographs, nine of which were classified as highly secret, as well as 47 confidential NATO documents.
Could not make do with a salary of 3,000 euros
The captain is now facing 15 years in prison. Biot admits he handed over information to Russia in exchange for money, but denies leaking sensitive documents and is ready to explain what happened, his lawyer said.
“He is convinced that he can downplay or explain the seriousness of his actions compared to what has been said in public,” says lawyer Roberto de Vita.
Arrested Officer Walter Biot
Photo: Screenshot from Corriere.it
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The arrested officer’s wife, Claudia Carbonara, told the Italian media in the meantime that her husband was not a traitor, giving the Russians as little information as he could. The captain’s wife claims that the family was in serious financial difficulties, the pandemics were exacerbated and difficult to overcome with her husband’s monthly salary of 3,000 euros.
“Yes, 3000 euros. But that was no longer enough to support a family with four children, four dogs, and a house [pie Romas] In Pomerania, for which a loan of 268,000 euros has yet to be repaid.
They are 1200 euros per month. Plus another school, lessons for children, which he categorically did not want to give up. ”
“We live for children. We have always sacrificed a lot for them. Those who do not know him have already been condemned and crucified. ” the officer’s wife told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.
Risk also for the Baltic States
Italy, which has traditionally had better relations with Moscow than other Western countries, expelled two Russian diplomats after the scandal, including the one caught. One of them was the Embassy Fleet and Aeronautics Attaché Alexei Nemudrov.
Security experts are concerned that Russia may also have secret NATO documents in Italy. Italy is one of the partner countries in NATO battle groups in the Baltic States, also patrolling our airspace.
“Therefore, this type of information, which seems to be cheap, can be very expensive, as it exposes Italian soldiers and other allies, as well as the Baltic States themselves, to insecurity or risk,” admits Sandis Schrader, a lecturer at the Baltic Defense College.
China interested in RailBaltica
Only Russia, but also China, is trying to obtain confidential information about the Baltic states. In March, marine researcher Tarmo Keuts was sentenced to three years in prison in our neighboring country, Estonia, for spying for Beijing. This was the first such case in Estonia.
“In recent years, the Security Police has already reported that Russia is by no means the only country that can threaten the security of the Estonian state with its espionage,” said Harris Pusep, a spokesman for the Estonian Security Police.
For example, Beijing has tried to find ways to get involved in the RailBaltica project with investment. China’s actions are slightly different from Russia’s. “China uses economic diplomacy to build infrastructure projects, thus gaining political influence,” said Sandis Schrader.
“China has huge economic resources at its disposal, and in this way China can increase its influence on a wider regional scale. Russia’s economy is no bigger than South Korea’s, so Russia must rely on different methods. It is to people’s weaknesses, to specific people. “
Spying methods have changed
Espionage is as old as civilization. Not so long ago, against the backdrop of an ideologically saturated Cold War, the activities of spies and double agents played a particularly important role. Has the portrait of Spi since changed?
“I don’t think the portraits of spies or traffickers have changed. Spying methods have changed.
Artificial intelligence and technology help countries gather and analyze different types of information, which has not been possible before, ”says Schrader.
“And only in cases where technology does not provide or does not provide such an opportunity, then traditional spy methods of finding vulnerabilities in people and buying or selling such information is a very effective way to obtain very relevant information. Also relatively very cheap, as in the case of this high-ranking Italian military official. “
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