US Charges Russian Decolonization Expert With Spying for Russian Intelligence

The FBI has charged Russian national Nomma Zarubina with working on behalf of Russian intelligence services, Russian America for Democracy in Russia community and US-based lawyer Igor Slabykh stated on December 3.

According to reports, Zarubina, who was known to be a decolonization expert, is accused of collaborating with Russian intelligence agencies to influence US-based experts and officials.

Zarubina concealed from the FBI that, in 2020, she was recruited by a Russian Federal Security Service agent under the codename "Alice" to establish a network of contacts in the US, targeting journalists, military personnel, think tank researchers, and university professors specializing in Russia, with the goal of advancing the "Russian narrative."

To achieve this, Zarubina participated in discussion panels and activist seminars across Europe and the US.

The indictment also reveals that Zarubina received assistance from Elena Brenson, head of the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots in the US, who is also facing charges for illegal activities and connections to the Russian government.

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Russian opposition politician Leonid Volkov recalled seeing Zarubina at a meeting with supporters in Washington in January 2023.

"She arrived early, took one of the best seats, but spent the entire meeting on her phone and showed no interest in what I was saying. However, as soon as the meeting ended, she rushed up to me for a selfie and then quickly left," he wrote.

Zarubina has been released on a $25,000 bail, with a restriction on her travel outside New York. In her social media posts, she denied hiding from the investigation and urged others not to rely on "post-truth." According to Slabykh, Zarubina could face up to five years in prison.

Earlier, European intelligence agencies have warned of Russia preparing violent acts of sabotage across Europe, including spying, explosions, arson, and infrastructure damage. Intelligence suggests that Russia is ramping up these activities, with recent arrests in Germany related to potential attacks. Experts also point to GPS interference in Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states as evidence of growing Russian destabilization efforts.