The person at the center of this case
United States (foreign intelligence operation targeting U.S. citizens)
Justice for United States (foreign intelligence operation targeting U.S. citizens) — the trail went cold in 2023, but the truth hasn't.
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Why did Burlinova identify and prioritize U.S. citizens with pro-Russia attitudes, and what was the FSB's intended use of this intelligence?
What specific information about recruited U.S. citizens was provided to the FSB officer, and how was it used?
How many U.S. citizens were successfully recruited through the Meeting Russia program, and are they aware they were targets of foreign intelligence?
Natalia Burlinova is wanted by the FBI for allegedly acting as an illegal agent of Russia's Federal Security Service, recruiting U.S. citizens for a program called Meeting Russia while providing the FSB with sensitive personal and political information about recruits. Between 2018 and 2023, she conspired with an FSB officer to identify Americans with pro-Russia sympathies and gathered their resumes, passport data, photographs, and ideological assessments. She was last known to be in Moscow, Russia, and remains at large with an active federal arrest warrant issued in April 2023.
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Who is the FSB officer who provided funding and direction to Burlinova, and what is their current status?
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Official wording
Conspiracy to Commit Offense or to Defraud the United States; Agent of a Foreign Government Caution: Natalia Burlinova is wanted for allegedly acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government, Russia, within the United States. Burlinova allegedly conspired with an officer of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) to recruit United States citizens to travel to Moscow to participate in a program called Meeting Russia run by the organization that she led, Public Initiative Creative Diplomacy (PICREADI).
The FSB officer allegedly provided Burlinova with funding and other support for her recruitment efforts. In return, Burlinova provided the FSB officer with information about recruited United States citizens, including their resumes, passport information, photographs, and analyses of their views toward Russia.
Burlinova further identified for further collaboration particular United States citizens who had expressed positive attitudes towards Russia. During a recruitment trip to the United States in the Fall of 2018, Burlinova met with United States citizens at various United States universities and research institutions and provided the FSB officer with photographs of her meetings.
On April 17, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Burlinova in the United States District Court, District of Columbia, Washington, D.C., after she was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Offense or to Defraud the United States and Agent of a Foreign Government. Remarks: Burlinova was last known to be in Moscow, Russia.
Burlinova conducted recruitment meetings at U.S. universities and research institutions, photographing meetings with U.S. citizens
Federal arrest warrant issued in U.S. District Court, District of Columbia for Conspiracy to Commit Offense or to Defraud the United States and Agent of a Foreign Government