Russia’s spy network exposed in Argentina: This is how Putin's ‘La Compania’ operated
Argentina claims to have uncovered a Russian spy network known as "La Compania" in the country, with Putin’s backing. Here's how "La Compania" operated.
On June 18, Javier Milei's Argentine government confirmed, via their spokesman Manuel Adorni, a series of investigations that revealed a Russian spy network operating in the country. Experts state that both spies are members of the Russian military intelligence service.
Almost 10 months earlier, on August 1, 2024, 2 Russian spies, alongside their children, were honored by President Vladimir Putin. According to the Kremlin, both minors discovered their true identity when they arrived in Moscow. Their parents posed as an Argentine couple based in Buenos Aires with the goal of "assembling a group loyal to Russian interests" and harming the Argentine state, according to Manuel Adorni.
How did 'La Compania' operated in Argentina?
According to the Argentine government, "La Compania" was one of the projects led by Yevgeny Prigozhin; the Russian oligarch leading the Wagner Group, who marched an "army" to oust Russia's defense minister, and eventually died in mysterious conditions.
The alleged Chief Commander in Argentina, Lev Konstantinovich Andriashvili, and his wife, Irina Iakovenko were receiving financial support from Russia to consolidate a network of Russian loyalists, taking advantage of Argentina's immigration policy, which allows Russian citizens to enter the country without any need of a visa since 2009. As Adorni stated: "They sought to develop disinformation campaigns and operations targeting the Argentine state."
The spy network activities including creating content in social media, recruiting contacts in civil society organizations, and gathering political and institutional information; which has raised alarms about a possible manipulation of the electoral process.
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Who are Lev Konstantinovich Andriashvil and Irina Iakovenko ?
The couple lived many years in Buenos Aires, where they built a life through false identities and fake passports; with the purpose of facilitating subsequent travel to other regions, such as Europe, while being fully Argentine.
Both Russian spies managed to establish a life for many years while leading a seemingly ordinary life while fulfilling their intelligence objectives, which is common in countries with lax immigration policies.
