Aleksandr Dmitrievich Ogorodnik

Alexander Dmitrievich Ogorodnik
Born 1939
Died June 22, 1977(1977-06-22) (aged 37–38)
Moscow, Soviet Union
Nationality Soviet
Occupation Diplomat, spy

Alexander Dmitrievich Ogorodnik (Russian: Александр Дмитриевич Огородник, 1939 – June 22, 1977) was a Soviet diplomat who, while stationed in Bogotá, was contacted by the Colombian intelligence agency and the CIA to spy on the Soviet Union, operating under the code name TRIGON.[1] He initially showed little promise and claimed he knew only of Colombian political affairs. He was later transferred to the Soviet Foreign Ministry in Moscow. In this new position, he was able to photograph a great deal of secret diplomatic cables, many of which were sent daily to the White House. Ogorodnik eventually requested a suicide pill (known as the L-Pill) to be used in the event that he was caught. His chief handler in Bogota, famed CIA traitor Aldrich Ames, was able to supply him with one. However, Ogorodnik threw away the first pen containing the L-Pill and asked for the CIA to provide him with another pen. After much discussion in the CIA Headquarters regarding this request, it was eventually approved and his Moscow handler, Martha Peterson, delivered the pen through a dead drop.[2] Ogorodnik was betrayed by a Czechoslovakian translator working for the CIA, Karl Koecher[3] and was arrested in 1977. During his interrogation, Ogorodnik offered to write a full confession and asked for his pen. When the interrogator handed him the pen containing the pill, Ogorodnik bit on it, broke the capsule, and died soon after.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Peterson, Martha (2012). The Widow Spy. Wilmington, North Carolina: Red Canary Press. p. 117. ISBN 0983878129.
  2. ↑ Peterson, Martha (2012). The Widow Spy. Wilmington, North Carolina: Red Canary Press. ISBN 0983878129.
  3. ↑ "TRIGON: Spies Passing in the Night". Cia.gov. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
  4. ↑ "Shadow OPS, Codename: Trigon". Retrieved 2018-03-31.
  • Earley, Pete (1998). Confessions of a Spy: The Real Story of Aldrich Ames. New York: Berkley Books. ISBN 0-425-16712-7.
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