Vladimir Zubkov highlighted with a circle. Photo: Belarusian Embassy in Moldova.
The Belarusian diplomat from the Belarusian Embassy in Moldova, who was allegedly targeted for recruitment by Polish intelligence in Chisinau, is named Vladimir Zubkov. He was an officer of the Main Directorate of the State Security Committee of Belarus (KGB). Reform.news has uncovered details about his life and career.
Let’s revisit this story. In a report on a KGB special operation in Moldova aired on December 10 by the TV channel «Belarus 1», it was claimed that a Polish diplomat had offered money to a Belarusian colleague in exchange for cooperation with Polish intelligence. However, the Belarusian allegedly refused to collaborate, managed to record their conversation, and even filmed part of their meeting. Only the first name of the Belarusian diplomat was revealed — «Volodya», as he was called by his Polish counterpart, Marcin Grabowicz. The interview with «Volodya», recorded by Belarusian propagandists, was shot from behind, concealing his face, and his last name was not disclosed.
There are not many diplomats named Vladimir at the Belarusian embassy in Moldova. In fact, there’s only one — Vladimir Zubkov. He frequently appears in the embassy’s photo reports alongside Ambassador Anatoly Kalinin. Kalinin, the former Deputy Prime Minister famous for his phrase about “the most modern traffics”, which turned into a meme, was sent to Moldova in March 2020 as an ambassador — essentially an honorary retirement posting.
But let’s return to Zubkov. Following Kalinin, Zubkov moved to Chisinau in 2021, bringing along his wife, Maria Zubkova (née Filippova). Maria had graduated from the Journalism Faculty of Belarusian State University (BSU) and worked for the Presidential Administration’s newspaper, SB. Belarus Today (this detail will be important later). The couple has three children — a daughter and two sons.
There is almost no information online about diplomat Vladimir Zubkov — not even his patronymic. However, there are numerous references to a graduate of the Belarusian Military Academy named Vladimir Anatolyevich Zubkov.
This second Zubkov was born on August 3, 1984. From 1997 to 2002, he studied at the Minsk Suvorov Military School (46th graduation class, 2nd company). He then enrolled in the Military Academy, specializing in the Border Troops Faculty. In May 2006, the Minsk City Executive Committee even awarded him a prize for his active participation in the scientific, public, and cultural life of Minsk.
The next mention of Vladimir Anatolyevich Zubkov dates back to May 8, 2015, when he was awarded the «Medal for Contribution to the Creation of the Eurasian Economic Union» (III degree). Based on the award documentation, Zubkov did not pursue a career in the border troops but instead joined the Main Directorate of the KGB of Belarus. In 2015, he held the position of “Chief Referent of the Department of the KGB Main Directorate”.
What else? Vladimir Anatolyevich Zubkov, born in 1984, participated in the Bison Race in 2018. His team, «Alpha_R,» finished 27th. Interestingly, two photographers from SB. Belarus Today, colleagues of Zubkov-diplomat’s wife, ran alongside him in the same team. What are the chances of there being two different Vladimir Zubkovs of the same age, closely acquainted with the same people?
We found Vladimir Anatolyevich Zubkov’s mobile phone number, the make of his car (a gray Geely), and even his bank card details. However, to be 100% sure, we sought help from the Cyber Partisans. Who knows? Maybe miracles happen, and these are two different people.
Our «suspicions» were confirmed. Indeed, the same career KGB officer, Vladimir Anatolyevich Zubkov, is working as an adviser at the Belarusian Embassy in Moldova.
Why such a detailed description of how we identified the Belarusian spy through open sources? Well, this is the caliber of Belarus’s undercover agents. Anyone willing can track them down.
Can a career KGB officer serve as an advisor at an embassy? To clarify, we reached out to Valery Kovalevsky, a former diplomat from the Agency for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation.
— Yes, of course, it happens. There are officially accredited intelligence officers. For instance, a KGB officer goes to America, and the FBI knows about it. This is standard practice. The intelligence officer openly declares: «I’m here from the KGB; my role is counterintelligence, cooperating with local services on counterterrorism, drug trafficking, and so on».
However, Kovalevsky notes, there are cases where intelligence officers operate undercover.
— In such situations, they come as cultural attachés, economic cooperation advisors, or even as advisors or consuls. This is common. In these cases, the host country isn’t informed. Such agents work covertly and engage in activities directed against the host country, which contradicts the fundamental principles of diplomacy.
In such instances, Kovalevsky explains, the host country’s authorities may expel these officers for activities inconsistent with their stated diplomatic mission.
— This goes against the rules. Usually, such individuals are expelled. There’s little else that can be done due to diplomatic immunity.
It’s worth noting that under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, host countries are not obligated to explain why a diplomat is declared persona non grata. However, the most common reason is suspicion of being an undercover intelligence agent.
In the case of «diplomat» Zubkov, there seems to be more than enough grounds for expulsion from Moldova. The situation involving the «recruitment» of an incorruptible Belarusian diplomat with a «spotless conscience» appears more like a KGB operation aimed at discrediting Polish intelligence.
What «Volodya» actually offered his Polish counterpart remains unknown. But the fact is, Polish diplomats fell for the provocation and unwittingly became participants in a KGB stunt. Moreover, the operation was staged on the territory of a third country — Moldova.