'Russian spy in Downing Street': Ukrainian interpreter in Theresa May talks accused of espionage for Moscow

Stanislav Yezhov, seen centre, with Theresa May and Ukraine PM Volodymyr Groysman at a meeting in July 2017



A senior Ukrainian government interpreter who attended sensitive security talks with Theresa May inside Downing Street has been arrested for allegedly spying for the Kremlin.

Ukraine’s security service on Thursday said it had arrested Stanislav Yezhov and opened a treason investigation, five months after he accompanied the country’s Prime Minister on an official visit to London.

The interpreter for Ukrainian cabinet ministers had been recruited by a Russian intelligence agency and had been electronically passing them secrets, authorities in Kiev alleged.

Mr Yezhov was seen in photographs interpreting for Volodymyr Groysman at a meeting with Mrs May at Downing Street in July, as well as a meeting with Joe Biden, then US vice president, in 2016.

Mr Groysman said in a Facebook post the spy had “long been working in the interests of a hostile government”, but it was not clear if he was already thought to be spying at the time of the London visit.

He interpreted the leaders discussions on topics including British military aid to Kiev, UK support to bolster the country’s cyber defences and sanctions against Russia.


Mr Yezhov was seen being led away in handcuffs after his arrest. Oleksiy Petrov, head of the Ukraine security service's counter-intelligence department said Mr Yezhov had “access to fairly specific insider information in the cabinet of ministers”.

He told a Ukraine television channel: “He was respected. He was working for the Russian special services very responsibly, thoroughly and creatively.”

Mr Petrov called Mr Yezhov a “rat in glasses”.

Ukrainian Pravda newspaper reported that security services had discovered the alleged spy several months ago, but allowed him to continue working as an interpreter while secretly gathering evidence against him.

Mr Yezhov’s wife is a Russian citizen and a declaration he filed in March about his family's property revealed significant financial ties to the country.

His wife Yulia Miroshnikova, with whom he has a daughter worked at the Washington-based energy consulting firm Numark Associates, according to the declaration.

Ms Miroshnikova Ms Miroshnikova had holdings of 286,641 roubles and $31,713 in the Russian state bank Sberbank.

Ukrainian media reported that Mr Yezhov had once worked at the Ukrainian embassy in the United States and suggested he had been recruited in Washington DC.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/21/ukrainian-interpreter-attended-meeting-theresa-may-accused-spying/

So I wonder what secrets she let him be privy to? Perhaps she should tell the HOC.

Where was the UK intelligence on this?

Why did not the Ukranian intelligence service advise the British on this?

Of course at present it is an allegation, which we need to find out if true and what was passed on

Russia's "extremely useful idiot"

This was also reported back in December.