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DENMARK AND RUSSIA

Russia accuses Denmark of ‘persecution’ over woman arrested on spying charge

Moscow has demanded the immediate release of a Russian woman arrested in Denmark on suspicion of espionage, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said Wednesday, accusing Copenhagen of "persecution".

Published: 12 June 2024 13:23 CEST
Russia accuses Denmark of 'persecution' over woman arrested on spying charge
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova attends a meeting of foreign ministers of Russia and Cuba in Moscow on June 12, 2024. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / POOL / AFP)

Danish intelligence said Tuesday a Russian citizen had been arrested on suspicion of “enabling a foreign intelligence service to operate in Denmark”.

The Russian embassy in Copenhagen “demanded from the Danish authorities the immediate release of our fellow countrywoman”, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

She added that Copenhagen had provided “no evidence” of the woman’s “unlawful activity” and said Russians and those with pro-Russia views are “subjected to reprisals” in Denmark.

The woman’s arrest comes as Western countries have recently arrested numerous Russians on suspicion of espionage.

Russia has also carried out high-profile arrests of Westerners on charges including spying, at a time of international tensions over Moscow’s Ukraine offensive.

Danish intelligence said Tuesday the suspect was expected to be released after questioning, but added that “the case is still under investigation”.

It said the case concerned media reports about a Russian sovereign wealth fund.

Danish public broadcaster DR and other European partner media recently published reports about the Russian fund Pravfond.

The fund, which was set up by Russian authorities, is suspected of funding disinformation projects, according to documents gathered by DR.

Zakharova said the fund and other pro-Russia groups abroad are operating “in conditions of unprecedented pressure and sometimes persecution from Western authorities, including Denmark”.

Recently Poland, Romania and the UK announced arrests linked to espionage in favour of Moscow and expelled Russian diplomats.

Russia this month ordered the detention of a Frenchman accused of gathering Russian military information and breaching a “foreign agents” law.

Russia has arrested several Western citizens in recent years.

US journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested on “espionage” charges in March year, becoming the first Western reporter to be held by Moscow on spy charges since the Soviet Union.

Former US marine Paul Whelan is serving a prison sentence in Russia after being convicted for spying in 2020.

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DENMARK AND RUSSIA

Denmark raises cyber threat warning level

Denmark’s Centre for Cyber Security has raised the threat level for potentially destructive attacks against businesses, organisations and authorities.

Published: 5 June 2024 14:30 CEST
Denmark raises cyber threat warning level

Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and the head of the Centre for Cyber Security (CFCS), Thomas Flarup, told media at a briefing that the threat level was raised from “low” to “medium”.

“That happened after [military intelligence agency, ed.] FE and [police intelligence agency, ed.] PET reported an intensified hybrid war,” Poulsen said.

“It’s important to say that Russia does not want a direct conflict with Nato,” Poulsen said.

However, cyber security experts believe Russia will probably direct cyber attacks at various important social infrastructure targets.

CFCS said Russia is willing to pose a cyber challenge to Nato member states like Denmark.

“We believe this willingness to take a risk will come to the fore through destructive cyber-attacks,” Flarup said at the briefing.

The threat rating for cyber activism was at a higher level in Denmark than “medium” as recently as January 2023, when CFCS rated it “high”. High activity by pro-Russian hacker groups targeting Nato member countries was given as the reason at the time.

The centre uses five ratings for cyber threat ranging from “none” to “high”. The rating relates to the threat against businesses and public authorities but not private individuals.

Meanwhile, Poulsen answered a question at the briefing relating to the recent withdrawal of a candidate from his party, the Liberals (Venter) amid reports of Russian influence.

A Liberal candidate for the upcoming EU elections, Alexandra Sasha, last week withdrew from the election and quit politics after media reports that she was compromised by Russia.

Newspaper BT last week reported that Sasha had once been a board member with the youth wing of the European Russian Forum. In a Facebook post announcing her withdrawal from politics, Sasha said she was not a “lackey of Putin”.

Poulsen said the Liberals’ stance was “completely clear”.

“It’s clear to everyone where the Liberals stand in regard to the entire question of Ukraine,” he said at the cyber security briefing.

 

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