Ustrahanov Ruslan, whose biography resembles the life of a special agent from popular militants with a famously twisted plot, is a former colonel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This man spent a long time in the countries of Scandinavia, since Russia allegedly charged him with espionage and cooperation with Norwegian intelligence.
Brief biographical information
After returning to Russia (in 2014), one of the online magazines Ruslan Ustrakhanov sent a letter describing in detail the story of how he became a victim of corruption among former colleagues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and big business.
In this letter, he indicated some of his biographical data. It says that Ustrahanov was born and raised in Kazakhstan. Regarding his parents, the former policeman writes that both of them were repressed. By nationality, the mother is Greek, and the father is Chechen.
Ruslan served in the army and at the end of his service entered the university at the law faculty. He graduated with a red diploma.
Career development
A young law graduate began his work in the Komi Republic. Further, Ruslan Ustrahanov, whose photo is presented in this article, was appointed to the October Department of Internal Affairs (1985). There he worked as an investigator for 2 years. In 1987, he was transferred to the Pechenga district, where he also first worked as an investigator. Over time, he led a special group that was involved in the fight against economic crime.
Since 1992, Ruslan Vladimirovich Ustrakhanov was sent to Moscow to work in the main department, which was engaged in the investigation of economic crimes. As an employee of this organization, he mainly conducted theft cases in the banking sector, which were carried out by ethnic groups.
After 1995, his career rapidly went up. During this period, he was appointed deputy head of the investigation department in the Pechenga District Department of Internal Affairs. Three years later, Ruslan Ustrakhanov decided to resign, as he could already afford a pension in connection with the length of service.
Retirement and Return to Law Enforcement
After completing activities in the police department, Ruslan Vladimirovich worked for two years in one of the Norilsk Nickel subsidiaries. There he served as head of the legal department and led the contractual work of the enterprise. According to the future fugitive, the regional department of internal affairs and higher authorities insisted on his return to the police.
In 2000, he accepts the proposal to lead the Pechenga police department in the Murmansk region. He holds this position until 2003, after which he becomes the head of the Monchegorsk City Department of Internal Affairs.
Rapprochement with Norway
It is known that the Murmansk region is located in close proximity to the Scandinavian countries. In the area of law enforcement, historically, this region has collaborated with neighboring Norway. Ustrakhanov claims that his close contact with his Norwegian colleagues during the period when he headed the police department in the Murmansk region was caused by a purely professional interest. At this time, various joint exercises and friendly meetings were encouraged, as they were held to exchange experiences.
With such friendly visits, Ruslan Vladimirovich often went to Kirkenes, where there was an informal exchange of information. Thus, the friendship between the police officers of two neighboring territorial countries was confirmed. In gratitude for such cooperation, Ruslan Ustrahanov was even officially invited to Oslo (in 2002), where he was thanked for his joint work.
In 2003, the police colonel was transferred to Monchegorsk, where, according to him, the issue of illegal immigrants was acute. Ruslan Vladimirovich managed to solve this problem and reduce crime in the area. He does not hide the fact that at this time he continued to cooperate with old friends from the Norwegian police. The colonel assures that even then the Russian special services were interested in such friendship. He claims that he was followed, and listening equipment was installed in his apartment. But since Ustrahanov’s conscience was clear, such an interest in his person did not bother him at first.
Ambiguous offers to work in counterintelligence
During the next visit to Oslo (2003), an interesting proposal was made to the Russian colonel. As a thank you for the fruitful cooperation, the Norwegians offered Ruslan a material reward. He was required to receive a receipt of the amount of money. Understanding the possible consequences of such an incident, Ustrakhanov refused and went back to Russia.
As a police colonel, this person should have been aware that, in fact, he had already been recruited to work in Norway. But for some reason, he did not stop cooperating with this country. In 2007, another very interesting incident happened. During his next visit to Oslo, he was asked to sign a document according to which he admitted that he was an agent of the FSB and was recruiting Norwegian representatives, who are on duty in Murmansk. In return, Ustrakhanov was promised that Norway would become “a second home for him, where he would really like it.”
Espionage charge
Most likely, this incident became known to the Russian special services. Frequent visits to Scandinavia have already interested FSB officers. Ustrakhanov was also seen during visits to Stockholm, where, according to him, he had a very close friend. Such travels, contacts with diplomats and communication with certain personalities did not please the Russian special services, and, according to Ruslan, they began to prepare incriminating evidence against him. The future refugee said that he began to panic, and after the FSB officers invited him to a not very pleasant conversation, he decided to run away.
Escape to Scandinavia
Soon, Ruslan Ustrahanov, whose personal life is not made public, and information about the presence of a spouse and children remains closed, went alone to Norway. After that, he moved to Sweden, and a few months later ended up in Finland. There he led the life of a simple refugee, and very soon the question of a lack of money arose.
It was then that a CIA employee met with him and offered a job as a journalist. Ustrahanova was promised to create the image of a correspondent forced to flee his country and write oppositional Russian articles. On the basis of such activities, the newly-minted publicist was promised legalization in Norway.
Fake journalist exposing Russia
Information space began to fill the publication, sharply criticizing Russian politics and exposing the government. They were published by Ustrakhanov. Today this man assures that he has no relation to such criticism. Based on his words, we can conclude that Ruslan Vladimirovich only picked up factual material, and all conclusions criticizing the Russian government were written by other people. In this way, the CIA waged an information war against Russia.
Homecoming
Ustrakhanov never received refugee status, and eventually he was transferred to Oslo. Today, he claims that the CIA in Norway feels free and controls almost all areas there. Ruslan Vladimirovich claims that he has become just a tool in powerful anti-Russian propaganda. When he realized all this, he decided to run back to Russia, which he successfully completed in 2014.
This story raises many questions, and the stories of the former colonel raise some doubts. Today, Ruslan Ustrakhanov continues to publish his articles, which now expose the work of the CIA and intelligence agencies of the Scandinavian countries.