This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/22/russias-chief-of-military-intelligence-gru-igor-korobov-dies-after-illness
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Russia's chief of military intelligence, Igor Korobov, dies after illness | Russia's chief of military intelligence, Igor Korobov, dies after illness |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The head of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, has died after a “serious and long illness”, the Kremlin has announced. | The head of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, has died after a “serious and long illness”, the Kremlin has announced. |
| The defence ministry said General Colonel Igor Korobov, 63, who has run the spy agency since 2016, was “a wonderful person, a faithful son of Russia and a patriot of his homeland.” It did not give further details about his death. | The defence ministry said General Colonel Igor Korobov, 63, who has run the spy agency since 2016, was “a wonderful person, a faithful son of Russia and a patriot of his homeland.” It did not give further details about his death. |
| The agency is believed to be Russia’s largest foreign intelligence outfit, and stands accused over the Novichok attack in Salisbury that targeted former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. The attempt, notable for its blunders, has strained ties between Russia and the UK. | The agency is believed to be Russia’s largest foreign intelligence outfit, and stands accused over the Novichok attack in Salisbury that targeted former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. The attempt, notable for its blunders, has strained ties between Russia and the UK. |
| The ministry statement said: “The leadership of the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation, General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GSA) and Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inform with great sadness that on 21 November 2018, after a serious and long illness, head of the (GRU), deputy chief of the GSA Colonel General Korobov Igor Valentinovich passed away at the age of 63.” | The ministry statement said: “The leadership of the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation, General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GSA) and Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inform with great sadness that on 21 November 2018, after a serious and long illness, head of the (GRU), deputy chief of the GSA Colonel General Korobov Igor Valentinovich passed away at the age of 63.” |
| “The memory of a wonderful person, a true son of Russia, a patriot of the Fatherland Colonel General Korobov Igor Valentinovich will forever remain in our hearts. We express condolences to his family and friends.” | “The memory of a wonderful person, a true son of Russia, a patriot of the Fatherland Colonel General Korobov Igor Valentinovich will forever remain in our hearts. We express condolences to his family and friends.” |
| Korobov had worked in military intelligence since 1985 and was made chief of the GRU in 2016 by president Vladimir Putin. The same year he was made the subject of US sanctions for “acts for or on behalf of the GRU”. | Korobov had worked in military intelligence since 1985 and was made chief of the GRU in 2016 by president Vladimir Putin. The same year he was made the subject of US sanctions for “acts for or on behalf of the GRU”. |
| In October he was reported to have fallen ill after coming under heavy criticism for failings by the agency. | In October he was reported to have fallen ill after coming under heavy criticism for failings by the agency. |
| Michael Carpenter, a Russia adviser for Barack Obama’s administration, tweeted on Thursday: “His predecessor died in 2016 of a heart attack. Life expectancy for incumbents of this job is pretty low, but then so is the median life expectancy in Russia.” | Michael Carpenter, a Russia adviser for Barack Obama’s administration, tweeted on Thursday: “His predecessor died in 2016 of a heart attack. Life expectancy for incumbents of this job is pretty low, but then so is the median life expectancy in Russia.” |
| The finger of blame was pointed squarely at the GRU following the poisoning of the Skripals in March. The botched assassination attempt led to the death of Dawn Sturgess, who, along with partner Charlie Rowley, fell ill after handling a container contaminated with the nerve agent in June. | The finger of blame was pointed squarely at the GRU following the poisoning of the Skripals in March. The botched assassination attempt led to the death of Dawn Sturgess, who, along with partner Charlie Rowley, fell ill after handling a container contaminated with the nerve agent in June. |
| In September, Theresa May revealed that two Russian nationals had been identified as suspects over the attack. British spy agencies concluded the men, who travelled to the UK under the aliases of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, were GRU officers. | In September, Theresa May revealed that two Russian nationals had been identified as suspects over the attack. British spy agencies concluded the men, who travelled to the UK under the aliases of Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, were GRU officers. |
| The prime minister described the agency as a “highly disciplined organisation with a well-established chain of command”. | The prime minister described the agency as a “highly disciplined organisation with a well-established chain of command”. |
| The two suspects’ true identities were revealed after a widely dismissed television denial, in which the two suspects claimed they were simply tourists visiting the cathedral city. | The two suspects’ true identities were revealed after a widely dismissed television denial, in which the two suspects claimed they were simply tourists visiting the cathedral city. |
| Investigative website Bellingcat said it had established Boshirov’s true identity, reporting he was actually Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga, a highly decorated officer in the GRU. Bellingcat later said Petrov’s real identity was Alexander Mishkin, a military doctor in the GRU. | Investigative website Bellingcat said it had established Boshirov’s true identity, reporting he was actually Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga, a highly decorated officer in the GRU. Bellingcat later said Petrov’s real identity was Alexander Mishkin, a military doctor in the GRU. |
| Both men had been awarded the Hero of the Russian Federation from Putin, the investigators said. The Bellingcat claims followed the president’s assertion that the men were civilians and had been discounted as members of his security network. | Both men had been awarded the Hero of the Russian Federation from Putin, the investigators said. The Bellingcat claims followed the president’s assertion that the men were civilians and had been discounted as members of his security network. |
| Skripal was given refuge in the UK in 2010 after a spy swap in which 10 Russian sleeper agents were expelled from the US. Russia has continuously denied attempting to kill him. | Skripal was given refuge in the UK in 2010 after a spy swap in which 10 Russian sleeper agents were expelled from the US. Russia has continuously denied attempting to kill him. |
| Press Association contributed to this report | |
| Russia | Russia |
| Sergei Skripal | Sergei Skripal |
| Espionage | Espionage |
| Europe | Europe |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |