Listen Now: Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring

Summary

The Spy Who: Episode Summary – "Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring"

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Introduction

The Spy Who, hosted by Indira Varma and Raza Jaffrey and presented by Wondery, delves into the clandestine operations of the world's intelligence services. In the episode titled "Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring", released on February 3, 2025, listeners are taken deep into the shadowy corridors of British politics to uncover a sophisticated spy ring allegedly operating within the highest levels of the Conservative Party. Hosted by Peter Jukes and investigative journalist Carol Cadwalader, the episode combines firsthand accounts, investigative journalism, and historical context to unravel a complex narrative of espionage and political manipulation.

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Background of Sergei Kristo

The episode centers on Sergei Kristo, a Russian-born British citizen whose life story embodies the intricate interplay between personal ambition and geopolitical intrigue.

• Early Life and Immigration: Sergei was born and raised in Russia, witnessing firsthand the tumultuous collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. At 18, he emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1993 amidst Russia's economic chaos and political instability. Reflecting on his motivations, Sergei states, “I came to England in '93 because I thought that I wouldn't live long enough to see Russia change the way I wanted to” (07:09).

• Career and Political Involvement: After arriving in London, Sergei explored various job opportunities, from working at McDonald's to freelancing for the BBC Russian Service. By 2000, he transitioned into asset management and became increasingly active in the Conservative Party, quickly ascending to significant roles within the party's volunteer ranks. By 2011, he was a prominent member of the Fast Track donor club and served on the Political Committee of the Carlton Club, one of the oldest and most prestigious Conservative clubs in the UK.

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The Rendezvous at the Carlton Club

The focal point of the episode is Sergei's encounter at the Carlton Club in 2011, which Peter Jukes describes as the beginning of a deep-cover espionage operation.

• The Mysterious Call: Sergei received an unexpected phone call from Sergey Nalobin, a man claiming to be a diplomat in the political section of the Russian Embassy. Sergei recounts, “He introduced himself, said that he was a diplomat in the political section. The curiosity got the better of me and I thought maybe I should meet him” (01:27).

• The Meeting: Sergei describes the encounter at the Carlton Club: “He said he knows Russian companies that would like to donate to the Conservative Party” (01:59). Despite initial reservations and memories of past espionage fears like the Litvinyansky affair, Sergei’s curiosity led him to engage with Nalobin.

• Sergey Nalobin’s Role: Nalobin positioned himself as a facilitator for fundraising, but his true intentions hinted at a deeper agenda. Sergei notes, “He struck me a bit strange from the very beginning” (06:35), indicating a sense of unease about Nalobin’s propositions.

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Unveiling the Westminster Spy Ring

Through investigative dialogue between Sergei and Carol Cadwalader, the episode unpacks the alleged operations of the Westminster Spy Ring and its implications for British politics.

• Espionage Activities: Sergei admits to passing information, primarily about German intelligence services, to Russian operatives within MI5: “The information that I passed to them was almost exclusively about German intelligence services” (02:55). This revelation underscores the strategic targeting of intelligence assets by foreign powers.

• Infiltration of the Conservative Party: Carol Cadwalader elucidates the extent of the spy ring: “This means that the UK has voted to leave the European Union” (04:01), suggesting that Russian interference played a role in significant political events like Brexit and the rise of figures like Donald Trump. Sergei adds, “If they change sides, that is treated as treason and they are treated as traitors” (04:01), highlighting the high stakes involved.

• Historical Context: The episode draws parallels to the notorious Cambridge Five scandal, where Soviet agents infiltrated British intelligence in the mid-20th century. Peter Jukes remarks, “It's the biggest spy story since the Cambridge Five scandalized Britain” (02:39), emphasizing the gravity of the current allegations.

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Implications for British Politics and National Security

The infiltration of Russian operatives within the Conservative Party raises profound concerns about national security and the integrity of British democracy.

• Impact on Brexit and Political Leadership: The narrative suggests that the Westminster Spy Ring influenced pivotal political decisions, including the UK's departure from the European Union and the rise of leaders sympathetic to Russian interests.

• Sergei’s Internal Struggle: Sergei’s involvement paints a picture of internal conflict, as he grapples with his Russian heritage and loyalty to his adopted country. “During these last few months, you and I have witnessed one of the greatest dramas of the 20th century” (07:09), Sergei reflects on Russia’s turbulent transformation and its fragile democratic gains.

• Current Geopolitical Tensions: The episode ties in recent events, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to the broader narrative of Russian aggression and influence operations: “In the last several hours, Russia has invaded Ukraine” (04:25), highlighting the ongoing relevance of espionage and international relations.

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Conclusion

Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring presents a compelling exploration of espionage within British politics, weaving together personal testimonies, historical parallels, and current geopolitical events. Sergei Kristo’s journey from a Russian émigré to a potential unwitting player in a sophisticated spy ring offers a unique lens through which to examine the vulnerabilities of democratic institutions to foreign influence. As the episode unfolds, it raises critical questions about loyalty, national security, and the unseen battles that shape the political landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Sergei Kristo on his decision to move to the UK:

  “I came to England in '93 because I thought that I wouldn't live long enough to see Russia change the way I wanted to.” (07:09)

• Carol Cadwalader on the scope of the spy ring:

  “This is an attempt to tell the story of another piece of hidden British history. A suspected hostile influence campaign targeting people working at the highest levels of British Politics, involving at least 33 Russian intelligence officers and the ex Prime Minister of Great Britain.” (03:23)

• Sergei Kristo on the precariousness of Russia’s political landscape:

  “Things can change really quickly, turn 180 degrees in Russia, and any positive changes they made are very fragile.” (08:11)

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Attribution of Speakers:

• Peter Jukes: Founder and Executive Editor of Byline Times
• Carol Cadwalader: Investigative Journalist with The Guardian, Guardian, and Observer
• Sergei Kristo: Russian-born British citizen and member of the Conservative Party’s Political Committee

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Listening Information

To dive deeper into this riveting espionage tale, listen to The Spy Who: "Sergei & the Westminster Spy Ring" on Wondery+, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial today and explore more untold stories of the intelligence world.

Transcript

[Peter Jukes]

Hi, the Spy who listeners, It's Peter Jukes here and I'm dropping into your feed to let you know about a podcast I think you'll like. It's called Sergei and the Westminster Spy Ring and it takes you down the rabbit hole of an alleged secret spy ring operating at the very heart of the British political system. It involves honey traps, Russian agents and information warfare. Together with journalist Carol Cadwaladr and Conservative whistleblower Sergei Kristo, we uncover a story that forms one small corner of Vladimir Putin's plot against the West. In fact, I'm about to play you a clip from the series where our story begins with a meeting at the Conservative private members club, the Carlton Club, in 2011. If you'd like to hear more, follow Sergei and the Westminster Spy Ring wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Sergei Kristo]

I was on the political committee of the Carlton Club, which is the oldest Conservative club, an old gentleman's club. There was a call on my mobile phone.

[Carol Cadwalader]

It's 2011 and our story begins with a meeting in London's exclusive Conservative private members club, the Carlton Club, between a man called Sergei and a bespectacled Russian diplomat newly posted to the capital.

[Sergei Kristo]

He introduced himself, said that he was a diplomat in the political section. The curiosity got the better of the cat and I thought maybe I should meet him.

[Peter Jukes]

The man from the embassy sounded harmless enough, but there was nothing innocent about this rendezvous inside the venerable Carlton Club, just a stone's throw from The Ritz on St. James's Street, a place where the carpets are thick, the port is strong, and a strict dress code applies at all times.

[Sergei Kristo]

He said he knows Russian companies that would like to donate to the Conservative Party.

[Carol Cadwalader]

It would take Sergei down a path he'd been trying to avoid for years.

[Sergei Kristo]

Things can change really quickly, turn 180 degrees in Russia.

[Carol Cadwalader]

This is a story about Sergei Kristo, a Russian born British citizen, and how he stumbled into one small corner of Vladimir Putin's plot against the West. It's a story that involves Trump and Brexit and later the invasion of Ukraine.

[Peter Jukes]

It's the biggest spy story since the Cambridge Five scandalized Britain in the second half of the 20th century, when the Soviet Union penetrated the highest echelons of the British establishment, turning intelligence officers into double agents.

[Carol Cadwalader]

What kind of work were you doing for the Russians then inside the MI5?

[Sergei Kristo]

The information that I passed to them.

[Peter Jukes]

Was almost exclusively about German intelligence services.

[Carol Cadwalader]

What shocked people most profoundly then is that the targets were establishment figures educated at the best public schools and recruited while studying at Cambridge University. Was he then the master talent spotter at Cambridge at that time? No.

[Peter Jukes]

And this is an attempt to tell the story of another piece of hidden British history. A suspected hostile influence campaign targeting people working at the highest levels of British.

[Carol Cadwalader]

Politics, involving at least 33 Russian intelligence.

[Peter Jukes]

Officers and the ex Prime Minister of Great Britain.

[Sergei Kristo]

Conservative friends of Russia.

[Carol Cadwalader]

This means that the UK has voted to leave the European Union.

[Sergei Kristo]

If they change sides, that is treated as treason and they are treated as traitors.

[Peter Jukes]

This country didn't vote to leave the EU because of pressure from Russia or Russian interference.

[Carol Cadwalader]

They voted because they wanted to take back control.

[Sergei Kristo]

President Putin, he just said, it's not Russia. I will say this, I don't see any reason why it would be.

[Carol Cadwalader]

In the last several hours, Russia has invaded Ukraine. The onslaught began just before dawn with.

[Peter Jukes]

A barrage of missiles on multiple targets right across the country.

[Carol Cadwalader]

I'm Carol Cadwalader, an investigative journalist with the Guard, Guardian and Observer.

[Peter Jukes]

And I'm Peter Dukes, the founder and executive editor of Byline Times.

[Carol Cadwalader]

And this is Sergey and the Westminster spy ring.

[Peter Jukes]

Episode 1Ameeting at the Carlton Club.

[Carol Cadwalader]

Everything you've just told me we need to like do on things and don't worry, I'm not going to get into trouble, although, you know, obviously you have a little bit of trouble. This is Sergei. I've been speaking to him for a number of years now and I can attest that despite what he says, he really does like a bit of trouble.

[Peter Jukes]

Sergei is a British citizen. He was born and grew up in Russia and the time this story begins in 2011, is in his late 30s and is working in asset management when.

[Carol Cadwalader]

One day he gets a phone call.

[Sergei Kristo]

Hello. I was working, doing something my desk and there was a phone call on my mobile phone. He introduced himself, said that he was a diplomat in the political section and that somebody in the embassy gave him my number and recommended me the nations Treasurer's Department as a person who he can talk about Conservative Party and British politics.

[Carol Cadwalader]

The man told Sergei that he worked at the Russian Embassy and introduced himself himself as the political first Secretary. He was also called Sergey, Sergey Nalobin.

[Sergei Kristo]

He struck me a bit strange from the very beginning and despite my sort of initial reservations, the curiosity got the better of the cat and I thought maybe I should meet him, just find out what he wants.

[Carol Cadwalader]

Nalobin was a link to a Russia that Sergei had decided to leave in the early 90s. Even back then he could see that moving from a communist one party state to a modern tolerant democracy was going to be tricky. Despite what George Bush senior and many people in the west believed.

[Sergei Kristo]

During these last few months, you and I have witnessed one of the greatest dramas of the 20th century. The historic and revolutionary transformation of a totalitarian dictatorship. The Soviet Union and the liberation of its peoples. It's a victory for the moral force of our values. I came to England in 93 because I thought that I wouldn't live long enough to see Russia change the way I wanted to.

[Carol Cadwalader]

Sergei was 18 in 1991 when communism collapsed, plunging the country into years of chaos and economic crisis.

[Sergei Kristo]

Our economy is still on the ground floor and we have a long way to go.

[Peter Jukes]

But a handful of well placed businessmen acquired vast previously state owned enterprises and overnight made millions.

[Carol Cadwalader]

Sergei saw up close the perilous ways power could change hands in Russia.

[Sergei Kristo]

I witnessed the August Putsch when Gorbachev was imprisoned in his Black Sea residence. Mikhail Gorbachev has been vacationing in the Black Sea resort area and has not been seen since the takeover. And there was an attempt to instill a military type regime. Tanks are moving into the capital, taking up positions near key government buildings outside the Russian parliament building. Crowds began gathering early this morning. And one thought that first came to my mind when that happened on that morning was that things can change really quickly, turn 180 degrees in Russia and any positive changes they made are very fragile. And that at any time, you know, democratic changes that have been achieved could be reversed. And then my next thought was that, you know, I wouldn't leave probably long enough to see Russia change and become a truly free country. And that kind of eventually led me to immigration.

[Peter Jukes]

Sergei moved to London in 1993 and for the following year he turned his hand to any opportunities that came his way.

[Sergei Kristo]

I worked in McDonald's for three months and I worked as a language assistant for a Russian tutor at the college in London as well. And then I was asked to chaperone Russian animators coming from Sayuz Multfilm in Moscow to do a project. They did the sort of animated operas whilst I was in taxi with them, chaperoning them from the airport to the hotel. They used to tell me all kinds of different stories about their project and I thought it was really, really interesting. I should get it on air.

[Peter Jukes]

Good evening and welcome to the Russian Service. Having successfully pitched his story to the BBC Russian Service, Sergei began freelancing for them in 1994. Alongside regular shifts reporting, presenting and producing, he studied for a degree in communications. And in 2000 he, he changed tack, shifting into asset management. It was at this point that Sergei became active in politics as a member of the Conservative Party. By the start of the new millennium, he was a rising young star in the party's volunteer ranks.

[Sergei Kristo]

I was on the committee of Fast Track, a donor club for young conservatives, and then became vice chairman. Organized lots of events with interesting speakers, knew the cabinet, knew the leader, everybody.

[Peter Jukes]

A decade on, and Sergei had settled into a role at the center of the establishment.

[Sergei Kristo]

At that point in 2011, I was on the political committee of the Carlton Club, which is the oldest Conservative club, an old gentleman's club. The Carlton Club Political Committee is also a fundraising body, and I was on that committee.

[Carol Cadwalader]

You were deep in the heart of the Conservative Party, Sergei?

[Sergei Kristo]

Well, kind of deep in the heart of the periphery of the Conservative Party.

[Peter Jukes]

But back to that phone call Sergei received in 2011.

[Carol Cadwalader]

Mr. Nalobin, the man from the embassy who called Sergei out of the blue, had been told about his contacts in the Conservative Party.

[Sergei Kristo]

When I told him that it was only fundraising, he said, oh, that's all right. You know, we also can help a lot with fundraising. That kind of raised my ears.

[Carol Cadwalader]

Who said that on the phone?

[Sergei Kristo]

He did first, eventually, yes. And I was quite cautious. You know, the memory of Litvinyank, obviously quite fresh.

[Peter Jukes]

Follow Sergei and the Westminster spy ring wherever you listen to podcasts.