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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Grandfather of new MI6 chief was a Nazi spy: reports
The grandfather of the incoming head of Britain's MI6 was a Nazi spy chief, according to media reports. Blaise Metreweli was announced as the new chief of MI6 earlier this month, becoming the first woman to take on the role in the spy agency's 116-year history. The Daily Mail reported her grandfather Constantine Dobrowolski had previously defected from the Red Army to become a Nazi informant in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine. The newspaper said German archives showed Dobrowolski was known as "The Butcher" or "Agent No 30" by Wehrmacht commanders. Reports also said the Nazi spy chief had a 50,000 rouble bounty placed on him by Soviet leaders, and was dubbed the "worst enemy of the Ukrainian people". Metreweli's grandfather also sent letters to superiors saying he "personally" took part "in the extermination of the Jews", the newspaper said. Metreweli will take over as head of MI6 from Richard Moore who will step down later this year after five years in the role. Commonly referred to as C, the chief has operational responsibility for MI6, and is the only publicly named member of the organisation. Metreweli first joined the MI6 as a case officer in 1999 and has carried out operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. The Foreign office, which speaks on behalf of MI6, said: "Blaise Metreweli neither knew nor met her paternal grandfather. Blaise's ancestry is characterised by conflict and division and, as is the case for many with eastern European heritage, only partially understood. "It is precisely this complex heritage which has contributed to her commitment to prevent conflict and protect the British public from modern threats from today's hostile states, as the next chief of MI6," a spokesperson said. In her new post, Metreweli will be accountable to the Foreign Secretary. The grandfather of the incoming head of Britain's MI6 was a Nazi spy chief, according to media reports. Blaise Metreweli was announced as the new chief of MI6 earlier this month, becoming the first woman to take on the role in the spy agency's 116-year history. The Daily Mail reported her grandfather Constantine Dobrowolski had previously defected from the Red Army to become a Nazi informant in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine. The newspaper said German archives showed Dobrowolski was known as "The Butcher" or "Agent No 30" by Wehrmacht commanders. Reports also said the Nazi spy chief had a 50,000 rouble bounty placed on him by Soviet leaders, and was dubbed the "worst enemy of the Ukrainian people". Metreweli's grandfather also sent letters to superiors saying he "personally" took part "in the extermination of the Jews", the newspaper said. Metreweli will take over as head of MI6 from Richard Moore who will step down later this year after five years in the role. Commonly referred to as C, the chief has operational responsibility for MI6, and is the only publicly named member of the organisation. Metreweli first joined the MI6 as a case officer in 1999 and has carried out operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. The Foreign office, which speaks on behalf of MI6, said: "Blaise Metreweli neither knew nor met her paternal grandfather. Blaise's ancestry is characterised by conflict and division and, as is the case for many with eastern European heritage, only partially understood. "It is precisely this complex heritage which has contributed to her commitment to prevent conflict and protect the British public from modern threats from today's hostile states, as the next chief of MI6," a spokesperson said. In her new post, Metreweli will be accountable to the Foreign Secretary. The grandfather of the incoming head of Britain's MI6 was a Nazi spy chief, according to media reports. Blaise Metreweli was announced as the new chief of MI6 earlier this month, becoming the first woman to take on the role in the spy agency's 116-year history. The Daily Mail reported her grandfather Constantine Dobrowolski had previously defected from the Red Army to become a Nazi informant in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine. The newspaper said German archives showed Dobrowolski was known as "The Butcher" or "Agent No 30" by Wehrmacht commanders. Reports also said the Nazi spy chief had a 50,000 rouble bounty placed on him by Soviet leaders, and was dubbed the "worst enemy of the Ukrainian people". Metreweli's grandfather also sent letters to superiors saying he "personally" took part "in the extermination of the Jews", the newspaper said. Metreweli will take over as head of MI6 from Richard Moore who will step down later this year after five years in the role. Commonly referred to as C, the chief has operational responsibility for MI6, and is the only publicly named member of the organisation. Metreweli first joined the MI6 as a case officer in 1999 and has carried out operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. The Foreign office, which speaks on behalf of MI6, said: "Blaise Metreweli neither knew nor met her paternal grandfather. Blaise's ancestry is characterised by conflict and division and, as is the case for many with eastern European heritage, only partially understood. "It is precisely this complex heritage which has contributed to her commitment to prevent conflict and protect the British public from modern threats from today's hostile states, as the next chief of MI6," a spokesperson said. In her new post, Metreweli will be accountable to the Foreign Secretary. The grandfather of the incoming head of Britain's MI6 was a Nazi spy chief, according to media reports. Blaise Metreweli was announced as the new chief of MI6 earlier this month, becoming the first woman to take on the role in the spy agency's 116-year history. The Daily Mail reported her grandfather Constantine Dobrowolski had previously defected from the Red Army to become a Nazi informant in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine. The newspaper said German archives showed Dobrowolski was known as "The Butcher" or "Agent No 30" by Wehrmacht commanders. Reports also said the Nazi spy chief had a 50,000 rouble bounty placed on him by Soviet leaders, and was dubbed the "worst enemy of the Ukrainian people". Metreweli's grandfather also sent letters to superiors saying he "personally" took part "in the extermination of the Jews", the newspaper said. Metreweli will take over as head of MI6 from Richard Moore who will step down later this year after five years in the role. Commonly referred to as C, the chief has operational responsibility for MI6, and is the only publicly named member of the organisation. Metreweli first joined the MI6 as a case officer in 1999 and has carried out operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. The Foreign office, which speaks on behalf of MI6, said: "Blaise Metreweli neither knew nor met her paternal grandfather. Blaise's ancestry is characterised by conflict and division and, as is the case for many with eastern European heritage, only partially understood. "It is precisely this complex heritage which has contributed to her commitment to prevent conflict and protect the British public from modern threats from today's hostile states, as the next chief of MI6," a spokesperson said. In her new post, Metreweli will be accountable to the Foreign Secretary.
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Spy chiefs probed ‘Russian double agent' at the heart of MI6 in huge 20-year global operation – and never caught ‘mole'
A source claimed MI6 'still [potentially] has a mole to find' FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE Spy chiefs probed 'Russian double agent' at the heart of MI6 in huge 20-year global operation – and never caught 'mole' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SPY chiefs probed a suspected "Russian double agent" at the heart of MI6 in a 20-year global operation. An investigation launched into the alleged mole, dubbed Operation Wedlock, sent surveillance officers around the world. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 High-ranking member of British intelligence and double agent Kim Philby Credit: Getty 6 A KGB guide smuggled him into Russia where he lived out the remainder of his life and was treated as a 'hero' Credit: Getty - Contributor 6 The MI6 Building in Vauxhall, London Credit: Getty It included a team of over 30 MI5 officers, as reported by the Guardian, whose work spanned up to two decades. One on occasion, they were sent to the Middle East and sheltered in a CIA safe house. It is understood they were sent on the mission under terms that would have been illegal according to international law. Despite their work, MI5 were unable to conclude whether there had been a mole spying for Russia. Read More VLAD'S DINGHY PLOT Migrant crisis fuelled by Russia in secret plot to destabilise Britain A source told the Guardian: "We thought we had another Philby on our hands". Kim Philby was a prominent member of the notorious Cambridge Five, a ring of spies who passed information to the Soviet Union. With fascism plaguing Europe, Philby headed for Austria where he became active in helping the oppressed working class socialists. Alongside his wife, Jewish socialist Litzi Friedmann, the couple helped the anti-fascist cause in Vienna but later fled to London to escape the Nazis. Philby's life changed when he was introduced to a resident Soviet agent, code-named "Otto", at Regents Park. Along with four other Cambridge students, they were persuaded to start double lives as spies for the Soviets. Through the help of the KGB they worked their way into government jobs and passed on state secrets to the Russians. Philby was so good at his job he even secured a high-level job with MI6. In 1949 he was sent to Washington where be became a liaison intelligence officer 'combating Soviet subversion in Western Europe'. However, after two members of the Cambridge Five defected, suspicion grew over Philby and he resigned from the Foreign Office. Cleared of treason allegations, MI6 posted him to Beirut, where he worked as a correspondent for The Observer. In 1962, his cover was blown during a conversation with a MI5 officer at a party and he later made a 'sham' confession to be granted immunity. A year later a KGB guide smuggled him into Russia where he lived out the remainder of his life and was treated as a 'hero'. MI6 is the intelligence agency which supplies the Government with foreign intelligence (as opposed to MI5 which deals with domestic security threats). Its existence was not formally acknowledged until 1994. It is regarded as one of the best spy agencies in the world. Describing its work on its official website, the agency says: 'Our mission is to provide Her Majesty's Government with a global covert capability. 'We collect secret intelligence and mount operations overseas to prevent and detect serious crime, and promote and defend the national security and economic wellbeing of the United Kingdom.' Meanwhile, MI5 is widely understood to focus its intelligence efforts inside the UK but that isn't always the case. With threats to Britain's security often coming from abroad, the agency says it does "work outside the UK where it's necessary to protect the UK's national security or to counter security threats". It describes itself as a "publicly accountable civilian intelligence organisation", not a "secret police force", as it does not have the power to arrest people. Reporting to the Home Office, it was formed in 1909 under British army captain Vernon Kell to identify and counteract German spies in the country, according to the Britannica. The MI5 probe into an alleged mole was sparked in the 1990s and continued to at least 2015. It was launched after a tip off from the CIA in America, where they believed a British intelligence officer was working for Russia. Vladimir Putin was in charge of the FSB, Russia's secret intelligence service, at one point in the investigation. A source said: '[We were told] the target was a Russian spy. The US believed he was leaking information to the Russians. "He was suspect 1A. The job was taken more seriously than any other [MI5] was involved in. Wedlock eclipsed them all.' As reported by the Guardian, it has been revealed the UK believed they had identified the alleged spy. MI5 specialists were put in charge of tracking him down, although they did not operate from the Westminster HQ. The mission was so top secret, one insider claimed the officer in charge was briefed about the task in a church. Instead, the team were based in Wandsworth, south London, which was near an MI6 base. The officers were told the suspected mole held a senior role at MI6 and listening devices were planted inside his home, as well as secret cameras. He was tracked across the world, with officers travelling as far as Asia and the Middle East. The agents were given authentic passports, but fake names, and told they would be "on their own" if caught. A source also claimed the suspect was not thought to have been working by himself, but aided by two other people. The insider added how Wedlock was a 'highly unusual operation, the longest in recent memory and probably the most expensive'. 'MI5 never got the conclusive proof it was looking for,' they added, and MI6 "still [potentially] has a mole to find". 6 Photos, of clockwise from top left: Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess (who died in Moscow in 1963), Donald MacLean and Kim Philby, who tipped off Burgess and MacLean in 1951 forcing them to defect and then defecting himself in 1963 Credit: PA 6 Harold Philby, 43-year-old former First Secretary at the British Embassy in Washington Credit: PA
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Spy chiefs probed ‘Russian double agent' at the heart of MI6 in huge 20-year global operation – and never caught ‘mole'
SPY chiefs probed a suspected "Russian double agent" at the heart of MI6 in a 20-year global operation. An investigation launched into the alleged mole, dubbed Operation Wedlock, sent surveillance officers around the world. Advertisement 6 High-ranking member of British intelligence and double agent Kim Philby Credit: Getty 6 A KGB guide smuggled him into Russia where he lived out the remainder of his life and was treated as a 'hero' Credit: Getty - Contributor 6 The MI6 Building in Vauxhall, London Credit: Getty It included a team of over 30 MI5 officers, as reported by One on occasion, they were sent to the It is understood they were sent on the mission under terms that would have been illegal according to international law. Despite their work, MI5 were unable to conclude whether there had been a mole spying for Russia. Advertisement Read More A source told the Guardian: "We thought we had another Philby on our hands". With fascism plaguing Europe, Philby headed for Austria where he became active in helping the oppressed working class socialists. Alongside his wife, Jewish socialist Litzi Friedmann, the couple helped the anti-fascist cause in Vienna but later fled to London to escape the Nazis. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Philby's life changed when he was introduced to a resident Soviet agent, code-named "Otto", at Regents Park. Along with four other Cambridge students, they were persuaded to start double lives as spies for the Soviets. Through the help of the KGB they worked their way into government jobs and passed on state secrets to the Russians. Philby was so good at his job he even secured a high-level job with MI6. Advertisement In 1949 he was sent to Washington where be became a liaison intelligence officer 'combating Soviet subversion in Western Europe'. However, after two members of the Cambridge Five defected, suspicion grew over Philby and he resigned from the Foreign Office. Cleared of treason allegations, MI6 posted him to Beirut, where he worked as a correspondent for The Observer. In 1962, his cover was blown during a conversation with a MI5 officer at a party and he later made a 'sham' confession to be granted immunity. Advertisement A year later a KGB guide smuggled him into Russia where he lived out the remainder of his life and was treated as a 'hero'. MI6 is the intelligence agency which supplies the Government with foreign intelligence (as opposed to MI5 which deals with domestic security threats). Its existence was not formally acknowledged until 1994. It is regarded as one of the best spy agencies in the world. Describing its work on its official website, the agency says: 'Our mission is to provide Her Majesty's Government with a global covert capability. Advertisement 'We collect secret intelligence and mount operations overseas to prevent and detect serious crime, and promote and defend the national security and economic wellbeing of the United Kingdom.' Meanwhile, MI5 is widely understood to focus its intelligence efforts inside the UK but that isn't always the case. With threats to Britain's security often coming from abroad, the agency says it does "work outside the UK where it's necessary to protect the UK's national security or to counter security threats". It describes itself as a "publicly accountable civilian intelligence organisation", not a "secret police force", as it does not have the power to arrest people. Advertisement Reporting to the Home Office, it was formed in 1909 under British army captain Vernon Kell to identify and counteract German spies in the country, according to the The MI5 probe into an alleged mole was sparked in the 1990s and continued to at least 2015. It was launched after a tip off from the Vladimir Putin was in charge of the FSB, Russia's secret intelligence service, at one point in the investigation. Advertisement A source said: '[We were told] the target was a Russian spy. The US believed he was leaking information to the Russians. "He was suspect 1A. The job was taken more seriously than any other [MI5] was involved in. Wedlock eclipsed them all.' As reported by the Guardian, it has been revealed the UK believed they had identified the alleged spy. MI5 specialists were put in charge of tracking him down, although they did not operate from the Westminster HQ. Advertisement The mission was so top secret, one insider claimed the officer in charge was briefed about the task in a church. Instead, the team were based in Wandsworth, south London, which was near an MI6 base. The officers were told the suspected mole held a senior role at MI6 and listening devices were planted inside his home, as well as secret cameras. He was tracked across the world, with officers travelling as far as Asia and the Middle East. Advertisement The agents were given authentic passports, but fake names, and told they would be "on their own" if caught. A source also claimed the suspect was not thought to have been working by himself, but aided by two other people. The insider added how Wedlock was a 'highly unusual operation, the longest in recent memory and probably the most expensive'. 'MI5 never got the conclusive proof it was looking for,' they added, and MI6 "still [potentially] has a mole to find". Advertisement 6 Photos, of clockwise from top left: Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess (who died in Moscow in 1963), Donald MacLean and Kim Philby, who tipped off Burgess and MacLean in 1951 forcing them to defect and then defecting himself in 1963 Credit: PA 6 Harold Philby, 43-year-old former First Secretary at the British Embassy in Washington Credit: PA 6 MI6 headquarters in London Credit: AP
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Armenia order to arrest senior priest over alleged coup plot triggers scuffles
A new order to arrest a senior clergyman over allegations of plotting to overthrow the government triggered scuffles outside the most celebrated church in Armenia on Friday, according to Armenian news reports. Video posted on Armenian news sites showed security forces jostling with a crowd outside the headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church near Yerevan, the capital, as they tried to detain Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan. The officers withdrew from the area outside the cathedral in Etchmiadzin, and the reports said the archbishop agreed to discuss the allegations with representatives of the Armenian Investigative Committee. A court was to rule on whether to keep Ajapahyan in detention. The unrest erupted two days after another prominent cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, was detained, the latest stage in an increasingly acrimonious confrontation pitting the church against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his government. Galstanyan faces charges, along with 13 others, of plotting to overthrow the government. Both clergymen deny any wrongdoing. The Armenian church denounced the street confrontation, saying the day "will remain in the modern history of our people as a day of national shame because of the shameful actions of Armenian authorities against the Armenian church". Pashinyan, who faces an election next year, said this week that the authorities had thwarted a "large and sinister plan by the 'criminal-oligarchic clergy'" to take power in Armenia, a former Soviet republic in the South Caucasus. Some senior clerics have previously called for Pashinyan to step down over Armenia's military defeats against Azerbaijan after decades of hostilities. Pashinyan rose to power on a wave of street protests in 2018, but came under heavy domestic pressure after major losses in a second major conflict with Azerbaijan in 2020. In 2023, Azerbaijan retook the whole of the mountain enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, where ethnic Armenians had enjoyed de facto independence for decades. Tensions between the two neighbours remain high and the number of reported ceasefire violations has surged this year. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes Competition Drama ‘Two Prosecutors' Nabbed by Janus Films
Janus Films has picked up the North American rights to Sergei Loznitsa's Cannes competition drama Two Prosecutors. The Ukrainian director's Soviet-era thriller set during Stalin's Great Purge in 1937 earned the François Chalais Prize in Cannes. Two Prosecutors centers on a law school grad who tries as a young prosecutor takes on corruption in the Soviet system and winds up facing the consequences. More from The Hollywood Reporter Ezra Miller Signals "Tentative" Hollywood Return After Surviving Personal "Abyss" NATPE Honors Europe: Meet the TV Execs Managing the Streaming Transition - and War in Ukraine Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona and Kyle Marvin Star in Trailer for Michael Angelo Covino's 'Splitsville' The drama is based on the novella by Soviet scientist and political prisoner Georgy Demidov and stars Aleksandr Kuznetsov, Alexander Filippenko, Anatoli Beliy, Andris Keišs and Vytautas Kaniušonis. 'Impeccably directed and impressively acted, this slow-burn story of political injustice is filled to the brim with atmosphere — specifically the stifling, claustrophobic atmosphere of the U.S.S.R. at the height of Stalin's Great Purge,' The Hollywood Reporter film critic Jordan Mintzer said of the historical drama in his Cannes festival review. Director Loznitsa in a statement said of the North American distribution deal: 'I am proud to entrust my latest film to Janus and excited to work with them for the first time. They have all my confidence to give the film the impactful North American launch it deserves.' 'With Two Prosecutors, Sergei has meticulously crafted a haunting and taut thriller rooted in the horrors of the past, yet chillingly resonant with the political realities of today. We're proud to release this vital film and to be back in business with Kevin, Said, and the entire team at SBS Productions,' Janus Films said in its own statement. The distributor earlier picked up other Cannes 2025 titles like the Special Jury Prize winner Resurrection from director Bi Gan; another historical drama, Magellan, helmed by Lav Diaz; and director Hlynur Palmason's The Love That Remains. Two Prosecutors is produced by Kevin Chneiweiss. Regina Bouchehri, Gunnar Dedio, Birgit Rasch, Loznitsa, Maria Choustova, Alise Gelze, Vlad Radulescu, Uljana Kim, Viola Fügen, Michael Weber and Cécile Tollu-Polonowski are co-producers. Recent Janus Films releases include Ryusuke Hamaguchi's Oscar winner Drive My Car, and this year Alain Guiraudie's Misericordia, David Cronenberg's thriller The Shrouds and Jia Zhangke's Caught By The Tides. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT
