![]() ![]() Norway is far from the only place where Moscow churches abroad are being used for intelligence purposes. The current patriarch served as its head and has long been identified as having been a KGB officer. The churchmen in these churches have tried to present themselves as completely independent of Moscow and even as opponents of Russian policy in Ukraine, something that may have deceived a few people but only made their role as cover for Russian spies more effective, observers say.īut the Russian Orthodox Church in Norway is subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate’s Foreign Relations Department which has a long history of working closing with the Soviet and now Russian intelligence services. Using its network of six parishes, the Moscow church in Norway has purchased land adjoining NATO installations and border facilities and engaged in what Oslo describes as photographic and other forms of espionage ( /articles/2/prikhody-dvoinogo-naznacheniia). The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.But few likely expected that there would be a real life confirmation of the Moscow’s church’s role in working with the Russian intelligence services in precisely that country, and yet that is what has been exposed over the last few weeks, where Oslo has uncovered the way in which the Russian church has been used for distinctly unreligious purposes. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. Lucian Kim, NPR News, Moscow.Ĭopyright © 2020 NPR. After his death, the Kremlin said Putin was in mourning for a legendary intelligence officer who had made history. Ahead of ceremonies marking the 75th anniversary of the war's end, the Kremlin is celebrating Soviet heroes like Alexei Botyan. He included Poland among the countries responsible for starting the war, and defended the Soviet Union's initial collusion with Nazi Germany. KIM: In December, Putin reminded visiting leaders of the sacrifices the Soviet Union had made during World War II. PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: (Speaking Russian). The Kremlin is using the Soviet victory over the Nazis to instill national pride among Russians and so strengthen the regime. KIM: In 2007, Putin invited Botyan to the Kremlin and awarded him the Hero of Russia medal. Putin gained control of the Russian propaganda industry, the hero was let's call it nationalized to become a Russian big name. He says the story of a gallant Soviet spy saving Krakow is an urban legend that benefits Russian President Vladimir Putin.ĭEBSKI: After Mr. KIM: Slawomir Debski is a historian who heads the Polish Institute of International Affairs. SLAWOMIR DEBSKI: The story is a Soviet propaganda fabrication. Alexei Botyan, the great Russian hero, is unknown in Poland. They simply abandoned the city before the Red Army arrived. Polish historians say the Nazis didn't plan to destroy it. They don't believe Krakow was saved by Soviet heroes. ![]() That's about as much of the Russian story that Polish historians can agree to. The war against Nazi Germany came to an end four months after the Red Army drove the Nazis out of the city. He just wanted the war to end as soon as possible. KIM: He said he hadn't been trying to save Krakow. KIM: Russian TV ran an interview with Botyan to mark his 103rd birthday last Monday. That feat inspired a popular Soviet movie. As the Red Army approached Krakow, Botyan allegedly blew up a Nazi ammunition dump, saving the city. KIM: The TV news focused on Botyan's claim to fame, his daring mission to prevent retreating Germans from destroying Krakow, one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. After Poland capitulated, he joined Soviet military intelligence. At the start of World War II, he fought against the Nazis and the Polish army. KIM: A TV news anchor reminded Russians that Botyan was born in 1917, the same year as the communist revolution in present-day Belarus. UNIDENTIFIED NEWS ANCHOR: (Speaking Russian). LUCIAN KIM, BYLINE: On Thursday, Russians woke up to the news that one of their greatest spies, Alexei Botyan, had died overnight. It's part of a furious debate about the past between Russia and Poland. But as NPR's Lucian Kim reports from Moscow, the story is not clear-cut. Russian state media are remembering him as the man who, during World War II, stopped the Nazis from destroying the Polish city of Krakow. One of Russia's most celebrated spies has died at the age of 103. ![]()
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