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The Estonian connection when Canada PNG-ed 11 Soviet spies II

jaan. 13, 2017 Estonian Life No. 2 2017


As described in the previous segment, in February 1978 Canada expelled 11 Soviet 'diplomats' for attempting to recruit a member of the RCMP's counter-intelligence unit. The failed operation included the Soviet embassy's second secretary of the consular section, Estonian Voldemar Veber and Peeter Lillenurm, embassy second secretary.

In fact Voldemar Veber had already left Canada in mid-1977, at the end of his posting, and the Canadian government declared him persona non grata, making it impossible for Veber to return to Canada. One might ask why would Canada bother at this point to designate him PNGed. It was obvious that an operation targeting the host country's counter-intelligence personnel would involve the most skilful and experienced Soviet intelligence operatives who would take into account the risks involved. They would be responsible for guaranteeing reliable communications, counter-surveillance, etc. – a situation in which they had to target an RCMP officer who in fact was tasked in exposing them.

Of the many Soviet ‘diplomats' available in Canada from whom to organize a team, Voldemar Veber and Peeter Lillenurm were assigned to join the effort. Yet Veber, many years later, in 1998 sued ‘Eesti' Ekspress” for publishing two articles, “Sandbox James Bond” in 1995 and “Spy buys merchant ships” in 1996. The stories describe Veber's activities in Canada as a Soviet spy. Veber stated that the stories were libelous, that his personal reputation had suffered and that he be compensated for moral and financial losses.
(Read more: Estonian Life No. 2 2017)

Laas Leivat

Jaga

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