Podcast Summary: The Spy Who Hosted by Charlie Higson and Elliot Higgins Released on November 19, 2024
Introduction
In this compelling episode of The Spy Who, hosted by Charlie Higson and featuring Elliot Higgins, the founder of Bellingcat, listeners are taken deep into the shadowy world of espionage to explore the intricate investigation surrounding the poisoning of Sergei Skripal. This episode delves into how independent journalism and open-source intelligence played pivotal roles in uncovering truths that traditional media often overlook.
The Skripal Case Overview
Charlie Higson opens the discussion by highlighting the unusual public exposure of espionage activities through the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former high-ranking intelligence officer. Skripal's case stands out because it brought the covert operations of spies and assassins into the public eye, largely due to the investigative efforts of Bellingcat.
“In the story we've been looking at in this series, the Poisoning of Sergei Skripal, suddenly this world of spies and assassins bursts into public view.”
— Charlie Higson [00:08]
Bellingcat's Involvement
Elliot Higgins recounts how Bellingcat initially became aware of the Skripal poisoning incident. Initially, there wasn't substantial information to warrant their involvement. However, as more details emerged, particularly the identities of the two suspects released by British police, Bellingcat saw an opportunity to investigate further.
“We heard about the initial poisoning as a kind of team at Bellingcat, but at that point there wasn't really much we could work with.”
— Elliot Higgins [02:06]
The turning point came when a Russian newspaper obtained the flight manifest of the suspects' journey into the UK, revealing passport numbers that were suspiciously similar—a red flag for Bellingcat.
Investigative Techniques
Bellingcat employed a variety of open-source investigative techniques to unravel the mystery behind the Skripal poisoning:
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Data Acquisition from Black Markets:
- Bellingcat's access to the "Provid market," a Russian black market for data, allowed them to purchase registration forms for the suspects' domestic passports. The minimal cost (~€50) and the ease of obtaining sensitive information underscored the pervasive corruption within Russia's data systems.
“It's almost a gag at the time. It was like, there's no way they're going to be so easy to just have all this data available.”
— Elliot Higgins [02:36] -
Reverse Image Searches and Facial Recognition:
- Utilizing tools like reverse image searches helped Bellingcat identify and verify the true identities of the suspects. Collaborating with facial recognition experts, they confirmed the matches between the suspects and their real identities.
“We created a profile of him. What would a Russian GRU officer operating in Europe actually have done in his career?”
— Elliot Higgins [14:39] -
Tracking Digital Footprints:
- By analyzing phone records and travel logs, Bellingcat traced the movements of the suspects across Europe, linking them to other covert operations, such as the poisoning of a Bulgarian arms dealer in 2015.
“Thanks to this data, we actually tracked him on other journeys he went on.”
— Elliot Higgins [10:14]
Challenges and Risks
Investigating Russian intelligence activities is fraught with risks. Elliot shares a personal anecdote illustrating the paranoia and potential threats faced by Bellingcat team members:
“There was one incident in particular where I was staying in a hotel in Amsterdam... I thought these could be poisoned. So I kind of flushed them down the toilet.”
— Elliot Higgins [09:06]
Additionally, the Russian state's attempts to discredit Bellingcat were evident when the Russian ambassador to the UK accused the organization of espionage without providing evidence.
“I don't have any evidence. I just have a feeling in the back of my mind...”
— Elliot Higgins [09:03]
Impact and Implications
Bellingcat's investigation not only exposed the identities of the Skripal suspects but also uncovered a broader network of Russian espionage activities across Europe. The revelations indicated a systematic program by Russia to conduct assassinations and disrupt political stability in other nations.
“We believe Russia suddenly thinks they're at war with us. I think the Cold War in the mind of Putin never really finished.”
— Elliot Higgins [10:14]
Despite these significant findings, Elliot expresses frustration over the lack of tangible consequences for Russian state actors, drawing parallels to other incidents like the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 and the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Role of Investigative Journalism
A central theme of the episode is the transformative role of investigative journalism, especially open-source intelligence, in holding powerful entities accountable. Elliot emphasizes the democratization of information and the empowerment of individuals to conduct their own investigations.
“What you're doing as part of a community and a network is actually beneficial to you as well as everyone else around you.”
— Elliot Higgins [26:50]
Bellingcat's efforts in training thousands of journalists and activists, coupled with their extensive toolkit and community platforms, highlight the organization's commitment to fostering a transparent and accountable world.
Public Perception and Trust in Media
The episode explores how Bellingcat's transparency bridges the gap between government-held information and public understanding, thereby reducing the space for conspiracy theories and misinformation.
“Had there been that gap, I think we'd have had a much more confused situation about what really happened.”
— Elliot Higgins [30:47]
Elliot also discusses the rising challenge of disinformation and its impact on society, stressing the importance of accurate, open-source investigations in combating false narratives.
Future Directions
Looking ahead, Elliot shares Bellingcat's plans to expand partnerships with universities to create investigative hubs and continue training the next generation of investigative journalists. This initiative aims to sustain and amplify the impact of open-source intelligence in uncovering hidden truths.
“We're building more partnerships with universities to build investigative hubs from, you know, students from different disciplines.”
— Elliot Higgins [34:48]
Conclusion
The episode concludes with a reflection on the enduring importance of independent journalism in the fight against state-sponsored covert operations and disinformation. Elliot Higgins underscores the ongoing mission to empower individuals with the tools and knowledge necessary to seek truth and effect meaningful change.
“We create spaces for people to come together. So we've got a Discord server with about 30,000 people and they're always digging into interesting things and doing investigations.”
— Elliot Higgins [26:50]
Listeners are encouraged to explore Bellingcat's comprehensive reports and engage with their investigative toolkit to contribute to uncovering the realities hidden in the shadows of global espionage.
For more detailed insights into the Skripal investigation and other espionage-related stories, visit bellingcat.com and tune into additional episodes of The Spy Who on Wondery.