The former Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) operative Sergei Tretyakov said that SVR considered Talbott a source of intelligence information and classified him as "a special unofficial contact," even though "he was not a Russian spy."
The allegations center on Talbott's relationship with Russia's ambassador to Canada, Georgiy Mamedov, who was a longtime SVR "co-optee," according to Tretyakov.
Mamedov called the allegations "blatant lies."
Talbott also rejected the accusations, calling them "erroneous and/or misleading in several fundamental aspects..." and said that his meetings with Mamedov advanced US objectives, such as getting Russia to accept NATO enlargement and helping to end the Kosovo War.
The former Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) operative Sergei Tretyakov said that SVR considered Talbott a source of intelligence information and classified him as "a special unofficial contact," even though "he was not a Russian spy." The allegations center on Talbott's relationship with Russia's ambassador to Canada, Georgiy Mamedov, who was a longtime SVR "co-optee," according to Tretyakov. Mamedov called the allegations "blatant lies." Talbott also rejected the accusations, calling them "erroneous and/or misleading in several fundamental aspects..." and said that his meetings with Mamedov advanced US objectives, such as getting Russia to accept NATO enlargement and helping to end the Kosovo War.
Strobe Talbott