Valeri Zentsov (born 31 August 1946 in
Berlin, russian ''Валерий Зенцов'') is a
Russian spy best known for recruiting
Herman Simm in 1995.
[ Postimees 14 April 2009]
Simmi värbaja elas aastakümneid Eestis
by Alo Raun[ Postimees 15 April 2009]
Simmist tegi reeturi isiklik solvumine
by Risto Berendsen
Zentsov graduated from the . After joining
KGB in 1969,
he was assigned to study spycraft in Moscow in 1973–1975, specialising in scientific and technological espionage.
Subsequently, Zentsov was based in
Estonia where he made relatively fast career, becoming the vice head of intelligence of the KGB branch in Estonia by 1988. Following restoration of
Republic of Estonia
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
, Zentsov was in 1992 classified as a Russian military retiree ranking as a
polkovnik, and as of 1998, Russia paid him a military pension of 1291.54 roubles per month. However, according to
Kaitsepolitsei
The Estonian Internal Security Service ( et, Kaitsepolitsei, officially et, Kaitsepolitseiamet, KaPo for short) is a central national security institution of Republic of Estonia. Its purposes are centered on enforcing constitutional order. Th ...
, instead of retiring Zentsov continued
clandestine work for the
Sluzhba Vneshney Razvedki
The Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation ( rus, Служба внешней разведки Российской Федерации, r=Sluzhba vneshney razvedki Rossiyskoy Federatsii , p=ˈsluʐbə ˈvnʲɛʂnʲɪj rɐˈzvʲɛ ...
, the foreign intelligence successor of
KGB.
In 1999, Estonia denied Zentsov extension of
residence permit based on his employment as
commissioned officer
An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.
Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...
of foreign (i. e. Soviet) military.
[ Estonian Cabinet of Ministers]
order 869-k
from 6 August 1999 After expiration of his last residence permit, he illegally resided in Estonia for 57 days, leading to his forced removal from the country by immigration authorities.
References
1946 births
Living people
Soviet spies
People of the KGB
Russian spies
{{Russia-bio-stub