The spy who loved to dance

The spy who loved to dance

In April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, a man in his thirties called Victor Muller Ferreira flew into Amsterdam airport using a Brazilian passport. He was identified by the Dutch authorities as Russian national Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov and immediately sent back to Brazil, where investigations by both the FBI and the Brazilian police identified him as a Russian intelligence officer. He had been living in Brazil, undercover, for years, with a well-developed personal 'legend', or cover story, that included a passion for Forró, a popular Brazilian partner-dance. Cherkasov is currently serving a five year prison sentence in Brazil for identity fraud, and Russia demands his extradition.

Leandro Prazeres of BBC News Brazil - who happens to be a big fan of Forró himself - and BBC Russian's Olga Ivshina unpack the story of this 'fake Brazilian' and explore the history and motivations of Russia's network of so-called 'illegals', or deep cover spies.

This episode of The Documentary comes to you from The Fifth Floor, the show at the heart of global storytelling, with BBC journalists from all around the world.

Produced by Laura Thomas, Caroline Ferguson and Hannah Dean.

(Photo: Irena Taranyuk.)

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(2000)

Kirk Franklin: Gospel music and my own faith journey

Kirk Franklin: Gospel music and my own faith journey

rk Franklin is one of the biggest names in Gospel music, with 20 Grammy awards, and a career that spans over 30 years. From classics like ‘Why we sing’ to the mainstream hit ‘Stomp’, so many of his so...

28 Aug 26min

Bonus: Lives Less Ordinary- Love Stories

Bonus: Lives Less Ordinary- Love Stories

Throughout August, the Lives Less Ordinary podcast is sharing extraordinary love stories from around the world. To listen to the season, search ‘Lives Less Ordinary’ wherever you get your BBC podcasts...

27 Aug 42min

Peanuts for the people

Peanuts for the people

In the 30 years since its invention the ready-to-use therapeutic food Plumpy'nut has saved the lives of millions of children and protected countless others from the effects of malnutrition. Jewel Kiri...

26 Aug 23min

Brazil’s gambling addiction

Brazil’s gambling addiction

The figures are startling - 2.1 million Brazilians have a clinical addiction to betting and 7.5 million are problem gamblers. Women now comprise 40% of all gamblers, having been 25% just a decade ago....

25 Aug 26min

Lucy Sparrow: Nostalgic supermarket made of felt

Lucy Sparrow: Nostalgic supermarket made of felt

Lucy Sparrow stitches life into everyday objects, creating vibrant felt worlds that look just like the real thing. Following the success of her hand-stitched felt fish and chip shop, she has recreated...

24 Aug 26min

China: The rise of a science superpower

China: The rise of a science superpower

Roland Pease explores how decades of strategic investment and diligent educational reform have brought China to the brink of global scientific dominance. As the world’s other scientific superpowers se...

23 Aug 49min

Secret phone calls from a Saudi jail

Secret phone calls from a Saudi jail

In a sprawling prison in the Asir province of Southwestern Saudi Arabia, hundreds of young Ethiopian men are currently sitting on death row, not knowing when their name might be called and to be told ...

22 Aug 26min

Flying with kids: Cabin chaos

Flying with kids: Cabin chaos

Noisy and disruptive children can turn a normal flight into a living nightmare. Earlier this month, a flight in Canada was cancelled after a young child refused to wear a seatbelt. The incident has op...

22 Aug 23min

Populärt inom Samhälle & Kultur

podme-dokumentar
gynning-berg
aftonbladet-krim
en-mork-historia
p3-dokumentar
aftonbladet-daily
hor-har
creepypodden-med-jack-werner
killradet
rss-schyffert-sundin-ar-det-har-nat
flashback-forever
kod-katastrof
rss-nemo-moter-en-van
svenska-fall
vad-blir-det-for-mord
mardromsgasten
rss-vill-du-veta-en-hemlis-2
rss-mer-an-bara-morsa
p3-historia
rss-vad-fan-hande