Back-Alley Arrest Ends Spy Plot

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30944, 28 December 1965, Page 10

Back-Alley Arrest Ends Spy Plot

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BONN, December 27.

The young Heidelberg University language student wanted a new car and the highranking Russian Embassy official wanted American Army secrets.

Together they wove a tale of espionage that involved secret rendezvous in back alleys, alleged romantic liaisons with German girls and counter-espionage by West German security police. West Germany’s latest spy drama ended last Monday. Jkab Stepanovich Barssu-' kov, a Russian Embassy attache, was ordered out of the country for attempting to infiltrate the American Army’s European headquarters at Heidelberg. The sources said Barssukov tried to have the Heidelberg student, identified only as “Peter R„” gain American i secrets through romantic relationships with German secretaries employed at Army | headquarters. He had promised the Mudent £lOO and a new car in return for “good informa- ■ tion.”

In spite of elaborate precautions to avoid detection the pair were picked up by West German counter-intelli-gence agents during a December 15 back-alley meeting.

“Peter R.” was arrested on the spot and will face possible trial for his part in the espionage. Barssukov, who held diplomatic immunity, went free but left Germany five days later. Barssukov was the sixth Russian diplomat to have to leave West Germany in connexion with alleged espionage activities. Officials said there was no indication how much information Barssukov was able to obtain through the student.