CLOAK AND CABINET

Richard Sorge was a Soviet military intelligence officer who operated undercover as a German journalist. His reputation preceded him as a charming and suave ladies' man capable of effectively manipulating people and gathering information with intelligence. He is primarily remembered for his exceptional service in Japan during the 1940s and for his pivotal role in halting Hitler's advance. Sorge provided crucial intelligence about the Nazi plan to attack the Soviet Union in 1941. Additionally, he informed the Soviet Union that Japan had no immediate intentions to attack. Sadly, Sorge's espionage activities were discovered, leading to his arrest in Japan. Subsequently, he endured torture, confessed under duress, stood trial, and was executed by hanging. Despite his status as one of the Soviet Union's top spies, Stalin declined to intervene in his arrest. So, who was Richard Sorge, and what about his life inspired Ian Fleming's creation of James Bond? Richard Sorge  EA...

On March 15th to March 17th, Russia conducted its presidential election, determining the next leader of the Russian Federation for a six-year term. Predictably, Vladimir Putin secured victory in a widely contested vote, marred by accusations of electoral manipulation in his favor. Putin won with a massive 87.97% of the votes. His opponents all shared a small slice of a smaller pie in this rigged election. Coming second with 4.7% of the votes was Nikolai Kharitonov, a Member of Russia's lower house of parliament and a long-time member of the Communist Party. Third in line was Vladislav Danakov, with a mere 3.2%. He is a member of the New People party. Bringing up the rear was Leonid Slutsky, who garnered a very tiny 2.5% of the votes. He was the nominee of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and also serves as the head of the lower house of parliament's foreign affairs committee. What's interesting about these candidates is that they either support the war in Ukraine or w...

In 2004, Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko returned from a meeting at a restaurant and planted an evening kiss on his wife. She remarked that his "lips tasted metallic." A few days later, Yushchenko's whole body started to swell up, and he fell ill. In this blog post, we will delve into Yushchenko's life, career, and political positioning. Who was behind this assassination attempt? Was it Russia, and how can we determine the responsible party?  EARLY LIFE Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko was born on February 23, 1954, in Khoruzhivka, Sumy Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, during Ukraine's time as part of the Soviet Union. His parents, Andriy Andriyovych Yushchenko and Varvara Tymofiyovna Yushchenko, both worked as teachers. His father taught English at the local school and was a veteran of the Second World War, while his mother taught physics and mathematics. Sumy Oblast, their home region, was predominantly Ukrainian-speaking, making Ukrainian Viktor's mot...

“I remember Holodomor very well, but have no wish to recall it. There were so many people dying then. They were lying out in the streets, in the fields, floating in the flux. My uncle lived in Derevka – he died of hunger and my aunt went crazy – she ate her own child. At the time one couldn’t hear the dogs barking – they were all eaten up.” (From the memories of Galina Smyrna, village Uspenka of Dniepropetrovsk region) The Holodomor, spanning from 1932 to 1933, marked a harrowing period during which millions of Ukrainians grappled with starvation, a man-made famine orchestrated by Stalin. The term "Holodomor" itself translates to " death by hunger " in Ukrainian. This famine emerged as a consequence of Soviet policies, strategically implemented by Stalin to assert control over the Ukrainian peasantry, particularly targeting those who resisted these policies—the so-called " kulaks ." This tragic episode unfolded as an extension of a broader campaign aimed a...

This week marks nine years since the death of Russia's most prominent opposition. Once dubbed Russia "Golden Boy", Boris Nemtsov rose through the ranks to speak out against Putin's regime and the corruption in the country. The mystery around his death has lasted a long time. While five Chechens faced arrest and prosecution, the crucial question lingered: were they the actual perpetrators, or were they potentially framed by the Russian government to conceal the alleged involvement of Vladimir Putin ordering the FSB to eliminate his opposition? In this blog post, we will have a look at Nemtsov's life, political career and finally his assassination, investigation and the potential guilty parties.  Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov EARLY LIFE Boris Yefimovich Nemtsov was born on October 9, 1959, in Sochi, Russia. His parents, Yefim Davidovich Nemtsov and Dina Yakovlevna Nemtsova, were both middle class, well educated people. His mother was of Jewish descent and worked as a pae...

Unfortunately, just over a week ago, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny tragically died in prison. The circumstances of his death remain a mystery. Today is a particularly poignant day as it marks the second anniversary of the full-scale, illegal invasion of Ukraine by the terrorist state, Russia. In this blog post, I would like to delve into the events of the war that have unfolded over the past two years, placing special emphasis on the atrocities attributed to the Russian army. We will also examine several prominent figures who lost their lives and the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Finally, let's explore why the West is losing interest in supporting Ukraine, despite the escalating discussions of a potential confrontation between NATO and Russia in the next few years. TWO YEARS OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS IN UKRAINE Over the past two years, Ukraine has displayed remarkable bravery in its struggle for freedom, defending both its people and its territory. The Ukrainia...