George Blake, a famous British double-sided spy, died in Russia at the age of 98

"We have received sad news – the legendary George Blake has passed away. On December 26, local time, Reuters and the Daily Telegraph said that Sergei Ivanov, spokesman for Russia's Foreign Intelligence Agency, announced that George Blake, a famous British double-sided spy during the Cold War, died in Russia on the 26th, at the age of 98.

In an interview with TASS, Ivanov commented, "He (George) loves our country and appreciates the achievements of our people during the Second World War." ”

Screenshot of the report

According to reports, George Blake was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, his original name was George Behar, his mother was Dutch, and his father was Jewish. His father was born in Istanbul and earned British citizenship for his brilliant achievements in the "First World War" for the British army.

During World War II, George was a member of the Dutch Resistance Army before fleeing Nazi rule and arriving in London in 1943. A year later, he began working as a secret spy for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, and officially worked for the CIA FOR a long time around 1947.

In 1950, George was sent to the British Embassy in Seoul and was later captured by the North Korean army that fought. He read Marx's writings, underwent a transformation of communist ideology, and became angry at the U.S. bombing of North Korea.

"I didn't join the Communist Party because I was treated well or badly, it had nothing to do with that." George wrote in his autobiography, "(Instead) because of ideals, I (chose) to join." ”

Three years later, George was released and began working for the C.I.A. in Cold War Berlin and spying on military intelligence for the Soviet Union.

In 1961, George was arrested after leaking secrets from defectors and revealing his identity. After being sent back to England, he was sentenced to 42 years in prison.

In 1966, George successfully escaped from Prison in London, crossed Western Europe into East Berlin with the help of friends, and has been living in Moscow ever since.

In a 1991 interview with Reuters in Moscow, he said he believed the world had entered the eve of communism. "It's an ideal that, if it can be realized, will be well worth it."

"I think it could be [achieved], and I've done everything I can to help build such a society." Although the facts have not proved feasible, I believe that this is a lofty ideal and that humanity will return to this idea. George said.

Reuters said George took the Russian name Georgy Ivanovich and worked as a lieutenant colonel in the former KGB's security service and retired with a pension.

He was seen as a Russian hero, and in 2007, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service honored George to celebrate the double agent's 85th birthday. Over the years, he has also received the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner, the Patriotic Order first class and the Personal Courage Medal.

"It was the happiest and most peaceful day of my life, and I was always at risk of being exposed when working in the West. Here, I feel free. In 2012, George said in an interview on his 90th birthday.

By then, however, George's eyesight had failed and he was "almost blind." But he didn't regret his past, "Looking back on my life, everything seemed logical and natural, and I struggled to adapt wherever I was, even when I was in prison, and I always tried to find something positive." ”

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