“As For Traitors, They Will Kick the Bucket Themselves”

During a live question and answer session with Russian citizens on December 16, Vladimir Putin was asked whether he had, as head of state, signed orders to eliminate enemies of the fatherland abroad. “Both in Soviet times and during the Stalin period — it’s no secret — there were special units that, apart from carrying out other tasks, were used to eliminate traitors. These units were eliminated themselves long ago,” the prime minister said. According to Mr. Putin, “Russian special services do not use such methods.”

Commenting on the spy scandal that erupted after Russian intelligence agents were exposed in the U.S. and subsequently sent to Moscow, Mr. Putin assured listeners that the traitors “will kick the bucket themselves.” He told about the difficult destinies of the agents “who sacrificed their whole lives on the altar of the fatherland.” “And then a bastard came who betrayed these people. How is he going to live with this all his life? How is he going to look his children in the face, this swine?” continued the Premier.

We remind readers that Vladimir Putin has kept his promise to employ the Russian spies who were arrested in the U.S. this summer and to arrange for them a “merry and bright life.” In October, Anna Chapman found a job in the Fund Service Bank. Andrei Bezrukov, also known as Donald Howard Heathfield, is working in Rosneft, the largest Russian oil company. On November 11, Kommersant wrote about the person who had betrayed the network of illegal Russian intelligence agents. The traitor was Colonel Shcherbakov, the former head of Department S, the SVR’s U.S. unit. In late June, the U.S. Department of Justice disseminated information about the arrest of 10 Russian intelligence officers; one more person was wanted. Later, arrested agents were deported to Russia in exchange for four men who were serving various sentences for espionage activity in Russia.