“I was a soft target for him.” how Russian intelligence tried to recruit a French journalist

Romain Mielcarek is a freelance journalist specializing in defense and international affairs. Published by Denoël publications Mujiks, a fascinating investigation, full of anecdotes, into the work of the Russian intelligence services in France. The author weaves his story around the common thread of an attempted recruitment by the GRU, Russian military intelligence.

LE FIGARO.-In your book, you tell how a Russian diplomat, actually a spy for the GRU, Russian military intelligence, tried to recruit you. How did he do it?

Romain Mielkarek. The approach is quite classic, and when you work in the field of research or journalism, you are quite used to it, you are not surprised. They come to see you very kindly, not hiding that they belong to the Russian Embassy. They claim to be interested in your work or claim to want to develop a network. First, a series of informal meetings…