“Russian Spies’ Operation in the US Was More Serious Than Was Previously Thought”

The Wall Street Journal says that Russian spies were creating in the U.S. a network of children-agents. According to the U.S. officials, the spies busted two years ago, among whom was Anna Chapman, were recruiting their own children to become agents. The details were told to radio hostess Anna Kazakova by the Kommersant FM correspondent in the U.S., Natalia Suvorova.

Are the names of the children who agreed to become Russian spies in America known, or is this classified information?

We know of at least one of them. Tim Foley, 20 years old and the son of two Russian spies that lived in the U.S. under the names Donald Heathfield and Tracey Foley, was prepared to be an agent. So far we know that just before being arrested, his parents told him that they lead double lives and would like him to follow their footsteps.

This information was learned by the FBI from conversations in bugged suspects’ homes and other places, the location of which was not revealed. Even then, according to his own statement, Tim agreed to go back to Russia both to undertake very serious training and to later become a spy in the U.S.

I must say that when his parents were arrested, he was finishing his second year at the prestigious George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Despite the fact that he was not American-born, Tim was sufficiently established. That is, he didn’t have any problems from his past that could stop him from getting, for example, any government job in the future.

How old was this boy?

He was 20 years old when he was arrested. It is also known that after his parents’ arrest, he left for Russia. Later he wanted to come back to America, but it is said that he is still in Russia.

You just told us a story about only one child. Were the others of the same age or younger? I simply want to understand what children can find out and who can entrust them these kind of secrets.

Of course, nobody tells small kids about what their parents do. Moreover, the lawyer of this couple that I was talking about stated that this information is false, since it is too dangerous for parents to open up even to their own son, no matter what age he is. In general, the Russian secret agents had seven children ranging in age from one to 20. Tim Foley was the oldest. Not all of them were supposed to become spies. For example, Juan Lozarro, the teenage son of one of the agents, remained in the U.S. after his parents’ arrest. It is said that he doesn’t pose any danger to the U.S. government. The boy wanted to become a pianist, and he studied music. In other words, he wasn’t preparing to become an agent.

So, we are just talking here about intentions? They didn’t have time for special training, did they?

Practically, yes. They did not have any special training. As I understood, the FBI has some documents and recorded conversations, according to which it is clear that they were planning to have some training. Although, as was stated by one of the U.S. high-ranking officials, the Russian spies’ operation in the U.S. was more serious than it was previously thought. Before, it was reported that they were ineffective. Today the U.S. officials say that this was supposed to be a long-term operation.

How did the U.S. react to this news?

There was a sufficient material on the subject. The Wall Street Journal was the first newspaper to report the story. In principle, the interest to this topic did not die out yet. The scandal was so huge that I think everyone will talk about it for a long time. In particular, it was emphasized that Anna Chapman, the most famous among all Russian spies, didn’t have kids; therefore, she was not part of this plan.