Russian Agents Recruit German Assets with Bitcoin
A German journalist, Angelique Geray, posed as a fan of Vladimir Putin on social media to investigate how covert Russian agents operate in Germany.
Geray created a fictional online persona, 'Katya,' and presented herself as a pro-Russian influencer. She posted videos of herself posing in a striped Russian sailor shirt and walking around the Bundestag with a Russian flag.
Before long, agents contacted her and offered her unspecified assignments, sending her payment in Bitcoin. Geray and other RTL journalists observed the recruitment process firsthand, noting that new agents were initially given simple tasks before being drawn into more serious operations.
Jovica Jović, a member of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance and one of Germany's most prominent pro-Russian figures, invited 'Katya' to meet. He spoke about his activities and hinted at the involvement of Russian intelligence agencies.