Alexey Kozlov (intelligence officer)

Alexey Michailovitch Kozlov (October 10, 1935 – November 2, 2015) was a Soviet intelligence officer, who is recognized as a Hero of the Russian Federation. He held the rank of major in the KGB.[1]

Biography

In the late 1970s Alexey Kozlov was appointed by the KGB to help monitor the Soviet government's financial assistance to anti-apartheid political movements in South Africa and South-West Africa (Namibia).[1] Kozlov researched and prepared at least one report on how Soviet funds were being spent by the African National Congress (ANC).[1] The nature of any other assignments he may have held remains disputed; South African prime minister P.W. Botha also claimed that he was involved in gauging popular support for the South-West African People's Organization (SWAPO).[2] Kozlov undertook four trips to Southern Africa, including two specifically to South-West Africa, and soon became a person of interest to the National Intelligence Service.[2] He was arrested for espionage at some point in 1981.[1]

The KGB negotiated directly with Niel Barnard, South Africa's intelligence chief, for Kozlov's safe return; he was later swapped for eight unidentified Western nationals as part of a prisoner exchange in Europe.[1]

In 2000, he was declared a Hero of the Russian Federation, for his "... courage and heroism displayed during the performance of special operations...".[3]

He died on 2 November 2015.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Vanneman, Peter (1990). Soviet Strategy in Southern Africa: Gorbachev's Pragmatic Approach. Stanford: Hoover Institution Press. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-0817989026.
  2. 1 2 Campbell, Kurt (1986). Soviet Policy Towards South Africa. Basingstoke: Palgrave-Macmillan. pp. 129–133. ISBN 978-1349081677.
  3. ↑ Герой России Козлов Алексей Михайлович (in Russian). Warheroes.ru. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  4. ↑ Alexey Kozlov, Soviet intelligence officer


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