Book "Pope's Spying Adventures In Russia" Presented In Moscow

A book by Vasily Stavitsky, "Pope's Spying Adventures in Russia," based on materials of investigation and trial of US citizen Edmond Pope, was presented at the FSB public relations centre Thursday. The book was written "on the heels" of the event and within short time, and issued by Mir publishers in a small print of 5,000. The author, Vasily Stavitsky, who is former head of the FSB public relations centre, said that the decision to "lift the veil of secrecy over the American spy's case was made after it became known that Edmond Pope, convicted for espionage and pardoned by the Russian president, is now preparing in the United States his version of his spying activities in Russia". Alexander Zdanovich, head of the FSB promotion programmes department, said that the book is very timely in view of the continued efforts by foreign intelligence services in Russia to obtain scientific and scientific-technological information on some of the latest Russian ideas in the defence field. He recalled that secret materials on the Russian Shkval rocket, which Pope tried to get through Russian scientist Babkin /his case is now being investigated/ are "the latest in naval technology and continue to attract great interest of Western intelligence services". Zdanovich recalled that the investigation department has several more cases like this in hand. He did not rule out that a series of exposures initiated by "Pope's Spying Adventures in Russia" would have more follow-ups after court verdicts.