FSB targets exchange students

by Andy on June 1, 2004

Upon returning home from Germany Russian students are regularly questioned by the Russian domestic security service, the FSB, claims Spiegel. Security agents are especially interested in students who received training in the framework of student exchange programs organized by the Bundestag and the Journalisten International project.

At least 8 students who received training in the framework of the Internationale Parlaments-Praktika program were forced to answer questions from security officers after returning home.

Mind you, this level of paranoia isn’t only present in Russia. In the United Kingdom, for example, I’m barred from applying for certain government jobs because of the time I spent studying in Russia.

Tagged as: , General

{ 2 comments }

gary 06.01.04 at 6:03 am: Is Canada pararoid or realistic?

Tuesday, June 1, 2004. Page 4.

http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2004/06/01/014.html

A Canadian in Moscow? Beware of someone listening in on your hotel room — and don’t try running a bath, either, as this will only arouse suspicions.

Although it sounds like something out of a James Bond spy movie, this Cold War-style instruction is just one of those currently given to members of the Canadian Armed Forces heading for Russia, along with warnings of sexual entrapment and other compromising situations.

Likely or not, Russian intelligence services are in active pursuit of material from Canadian military personnel whenever they come to Russia — and even back home — according to a Canadian government report titled, “Travel to a Country of Security Concern: Russia.”
Nathan 06.01.04 at 3:35 pm: You can’t even apply? Wow, and people say our government is overly concerned with security.

I, for the time being, cannot apply to work for the CIA because of legislation barring former Peace Corps Volunteers from working in intelligence for five years after their close of service (and you can’t be in the Peace Corps if you’ve done intelligence work in the past decade before applying). That’s more to protect the Peace Corps though. Assuming I make it to that point in my State Department application, the security clearance just takes longer because of my time overseas.