RFE
09 Nov 2018, 03:37 GMT+10
A square near the Moscow headquarters of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has been named after Kim Philby, a British spy who defected to the Soviet Union in 1963.
The intersection in the southwestern part of the capital was renamed Kim Philby Square following the signing of a decree by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on November 6.
The action comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and Britain over the poisoning of a Russian former spy and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury in March. Britain and most of the West has blame Russia for the Soviet-designed nerve agent attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal, although Moscow denies any involvement.
Philby, considered his country's biggest Cold War traitor, joined Britain's MI6 foreign intelligence service in 1940 and rose to the head of its counterespionage division. He also served as intelligence liaison with the United States.
He was exposed as a double agent in 1963 after passing information to Moscow over three decades and defected to the Soviet Union while being stationed in Beirut.
He lived in the Russian capital until he died in 1988, although nowhere near the square named in his honor.
The move comes months after a street plaza opposite the Russian Embassy in Washington was renamed in February to honor Boris Nemtsov, the Russian opposition leader who was assassinated in Moscow in February 2015.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and the BBC
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Europe Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Europe Sun.
More InformationATLANTA, Georgia: The United States is facing its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades, with 1,288 confirmed cases so...
In the past month alone, 23 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza—three more than the number of remaining living hostages held...
LONDON, U.K.: At least 13 people are believed to have taken their own lives as a result of the U.K.'s Post Office scandal, in which...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...
REDMOND, Washington: Artificial intelligence is transforming Microsoft's bottom line. The company saved over US$500 million last year...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...