Entrance to the Russian embassy in Dublin. Photo: Getty
A politician in the Oireachtas has allegedly been recruited by Russian intelligence, according to The Sunday Times.
Nicknamed “Cobalt” for legal reasons, it is one of Ireland’s most closely guarded secrets.
The publication reports that the discovery was made after an investigation by Irish military and security services.
Sergey Prokopiev, a Russian spy, worked as a counsellor at his country’s embassy in Orwell Road, Dublin, from 2019 to 2022.
He is reported to have headed up the intelligence operation that recruited the politician, who allegedly uses his influence within the Oireachtas.
Their dealings came to attention after Cobalt and Mr Prokopiev were monitored meeting outside Dublin.
The politician is reported to have offered to help make connections with paramilitaries in Northern Ireland during Brexit negotiations – despite not having had any public or private political engagement with paramilitaries during his career.
The agent has been monitored by both the military and the gardai.
The Sunday Times reports that when special branch officers with the gardaí told him that he was being targeted by Russians, he did not show immediate concern and this is what raised their suspicions further.
However, no evidence of payments into any of his bank accounts were found.
It is also believed his internet browsing history may have been intercepted when travelling abroad.
And the honeypot method, whereby an agent makes their target fall for them romantically, was also used by the Russians in an attempt to further compromise the politician.
It is the first known case of infiltration of the Oireachtas by a hostile intelligence service.
Some people believe Cobalt’s connection to the Russians remains intact today.
He cannot be arrested or charged due to not having committed a crime.
He lacks access to intelligence or classified information but he remains a person of interest to the security services, The Sunday Times report added.
