Secret service report: Russian spies use Cold War methods

Russian spies in the Czech Republic use methods that were employed by the Soviet intelligence in Western Europe in the 1980s, according to the annual report of the Czech Intelligence Service BIS released on Monday. The report said that last year Russian espionage activities in the country were on the rise, and specifically focused on US plans to build part of an American anti-missile defence shield in the Czech Republic. The Czech secret service said that Russian exponents contacted Czech politicians, particularly MPs, their assistants and the staff of Czech political parties. The report also notes that Russian spies, who are covered as diplomatic staff at Russian embassy and consulates, employ methods used by Soviet espionage in Western Europe in the last decade of the Cold War to influence the peace movement of the time.

Earlier this month the Czech Republic expelled two Russian diplomats for alleged spying. Russia then retaliated by expelling two Czech diplomats from the Czech mission in Moscow.