By Smartencyclopedia

Colonel Aleksandr Nikolayevich Poteyev (Александр Николаевич Потеев) is the former Deputy Head of Directorate “S” of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) from 2000–2010.

Beginning around 1999, he began working secretly with the CIA, helping to reveal a hidden network of Russian spies operating within the United States, known as the Illegals Program.

In late June 2010, the CIA led a successful operation to extract Poteyev from Russia.

He is reported to be living in the United States under an assumed identity.

Introduction

Espionage has always been a murky world of secrets, covert operations, and double agents. One such captivating story unfolded in 2010 when Aleksandr Poteyev, a high-ranking Russian intelligence officer, defected to the United States, revealing a deep-rooted spy ring operating on American soil. Poteyev’s defection would have far-reaching consequences, exposing the extent of Russian espionage activities and straining diplomatic relations between the two superpowers.

Early life

Poteyev was born in the Brest Region of the Republic of Belarus.

His father, Nikolai Pavlovich Poteyev, had been declared a Hero of the USSR in 1944 for having destroyed nine enemy tanks.

Career

The Rise of Aleksandr Poteyev

Aleksandr Poteyev began his career in the Russian intelligence community, eventually rising through the ranks to become a colonel in the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR). He held a pivotal position as the deputy head of the “Illegals” program, responsible for coordinating and overseeing undercover Russian agents operating clandestinely in the United States.

1970s

Poteyev enlisted in the army during the 1970s.

Afterward, he entered the service of the KGB, working primarily in Minsk, and then later in Afghanistan as part of “Zenith”, an elite special forces unit.

1980s

In 1981, Poteyev was awarded the Order of the Red Banner for his participation in hostilities in Kabul as part of the special forces unit “Cascade”.

After returning from Afghanistan, Poteyev graduated from the Academy of Foreign Intelligence and then went on to work for the First Chief Directorate of the USSR.

1990s

Working under official cover as a representative from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poteyev took around a dozen short trips to several Western countries during the 1990s, including Mexico, Chile, and New York City in the United States.

According to a Russian court, Poteyev had begun passing information to the CIA since around 1999.

2000s

The Defection

In a dramatic turn of events, just before the FBI could dismantle the Russian spy ring, Poteyev made the audacious decision to defect to the United States. His defection was a well-executed plan, leaving behind his former life and severing ties with his homeland. Poteyev sought the protection of the U.S. government, providing critical information that would expose the secret activities of the Russian spies operating in America.

Unraveling the Spy Ring

Poteyev’s defection sent shockwaves through the intelligence community. Armed with his insider knowledge, U.S. authorities swiftly moved to dismantle the Russian spy ring. With Poteyev’s assistance, the identities of the undercover agents were uncovered, and their operations were brought to an end. The resulting arrests and expulsions dealt a significant blow to Russian intelligence activities on U.S. soil.

Consequences and Fallout

The repercussions of Poteyev’s defection were substantial. The incident strained diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States, revealing a deep-seated rivalry in the realm of intelligence. The exposed spy ring highlighted the persistence and audacity of Russian espionage efforts, raising concerns about national security and the integrity of sensitive information.

Poteyev’s Fate

Following his defection, Poteyev went into hiding under the protection of the U.S. government. In Russia, he was tried in absentia and convicted of high treason, considered a traitor by his former colleagues. The Russian government sought his extradition, but the U.S. authorities refused, citing his cooperation and the potential risks to his safety.

In 2000, Poteyev was appointed to Deputy Head of Directorate “S” of the SVR, where he was tasked with overseeing a network of spies living inside the United States.

Around 2001, Poteyev reportedly “cashed in” on a contract with the CIA worth somewhere between $2 and $5 million.

On January 25, 2003, Poteyev’s wife, Marina, filed a police report claiming that three individuals disguised as law enforcement had broken into the Poteyevs’ apartment in Moscow. Once inside, the individuals reportedly robbed and attacked members of the Poteyev family.

2010s

In May 2010, Poteyev reportedly requested leave to visit a pregnant mistress of his in Odesa but was denied by his superiors.

In June 2010, aware that lie detector tests were being prepared to find a suspected high-ranking mole in the SVR, Poteyev instructed his son to leave for the United States, where Poteyev’s wife and daughter were living.

On June 24, 2010, without informing his superiors, Poteyev purchased a rail ticket from Moscow to Minsk. From there, he moved to obtain a false passport in Ivano-Frankivsk, then headed to Frankfurt, before finally arriving at CIA headquarters in the United States on June 26, 2010. On the following day, the FBI had begun arresting the Russian spy ring.

Post-career

On November 11, 2010, Kommersant reported that the person who had given the names of the Russian spies to U.S. authorities was Colonel Shcherbakov of the SVR. Four days later, RIA Novosti reported that it was not Shcherbakov, but Poteyev.

On June 27, 2011, a Russian court found Poteyev guilty of high treason, sentencing him in absentia to 25 years in prison.

In July 2013, Der Spiegel reported that Poteyev had been responsible for the October 2011 arrest of a German-based Russian spy couple who had been living under the names of Andreas and Heidrun Anschlag.

Life in America

Around late 2013 or early 2014, a suspected Russian hit man on a valid U.S. visa had reportedly approached Poteyev’s home in Florida, as well as the city of one of Poteyev’s relatives.

On July 7, 2016, the Russian news agency Interfax reported an unconfirmed rumor that Poteyev had died in the United States.

In March 2017, journalists for BuzzFeed News reportedly found a person matching Poteyev’s biography living in an apartment complex in Florida.

In 2020, Russia attempted unsuccessfully to assassinate Poteyev. In 2019, Russia hired a Mexican-Singaporean microbiologist, Hector Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes, to find Poteyev’s whereabouts. Fuentes was told to rent out a property in Miami, where Poteyev was residing. On February 14, 2020, Fuentes traveled to Miami from Mexico City. The next day, Fuentes was instructed to find Poteyev’s license plate. Fuentes was expelled from the apartment complex by security, so he instructed his wife to take a picture of the plate. Two days later, while trying to leave the US through Miami International Airport, US Customs found a picture of Poteyev’s license plate in Fuentes’s travel companion’s “recently deleted” folder. When questioned, “Fuentes admitted to law enforcement officers that he was directed by a Russian government official to conduct this operation.

Legacy and Lessons

The case of Aleksandr Poteyev serves as a powerful reminder of the shadowy world of espionage and the high stakes involved. It underscores the perpetual battle between nations for intelligence supremacy, where loyalty and betrayal walk a fine line. The Poteyev affair also exposed the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by intelligence agencies in countering foreign espionage threats.

In conclusion, the defection of Aleksandr Poteyev reverberated through the halls of power, revealing the hidden dangers that lurk within the world of intelligence operations. His decision to defect and expose the Russian spy ring operating in the United States had far-reaching consequences, shedding light on the complex nature of global espionage. Poteyev’s actions provided valuable insights into the extent of Russian espionage activities and the ongoing intelligence rivalry between nations, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of international intrigue.

Aleksandr Poteyev
Born	Aleksandr Nikolayevich Poteyev March 7, 1952 Brest Region, Belarus
Occupation	Former Deputy Head of Directorate “S”
Spouse	Marina
Children	2

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