Circling the Lion's Den

FSB versus Halo-Trust

On August 10, COS FSB overspread a statement in which it was submitted that Russian FSB had the reliable information on mine explosive’ specialists preparation for the armed formations of international terrorists fighting at Chechnya territory.

"One of the structures latent executor of such a kind activity at RF territory is the international non-governmental organization "Halo-Trust" established in Great Britain at the end of 80-s as a charity non-profit organization. Its main task according to the articles is administration in works fulfillment  on mine clearance of the countries territory which suffered from armed conflicts".

The firm got into field of view of Russian state securities bodies in 1998 in connection with the data check that the officers of its Abkhazia branch (Great Britain subject Charley Emms and Nicholas Knobs and Zimbabwe citizen Thomas Dibb) were carrying out the intelligence-subversive activity against Russia at the territory of Chechnya.

Firms representatives arrived to the territory of Chechnya without permission by Russian authorities. Its branch in Chechnya also was opened by short-circuiting of the official Russian authorities. Branch officers under the veil of works organization on mine clearance of the republic territory formed the courses on training of mine explosive specialists.

"Halo-Trust" representatives were engaged in collection of the general information of military-political character, to that end they maintained close contacts with the Chechenian leaders, it’s stressed on COS FSB communication. During the period from 1997 the instructors of the present organization trained over 100 of mine explosive specialists. Captured fixers by the firm from Chechenians stated about it.

Halo-Trust chief denied all charge in spying in the interview by The Times.

Next day, Aug 11, 2000 COS FSB announced that several months ago on a charge of act of terrorism in Grozny there had been arrested and kept in custody up to now Dibb’s assistant - Ruslan Dghabrailov. FSB officers don’t shut out a possibility that he could be charged in spying.

Participants:

Resources:

  • Izvestiya 12.08.00 "Detonate charity"
  • The Times 11.08.00 "We were just doing our job, say trust chief"
  • The Times 11.08.00 "Russia accuses Diana’s charity of aiding rebels"
  • The Times 11.08.00 "Landmine cause boosted by the Princess"
  • RBK 11.08.00 "HALO Trust chief: "Sooner or later we will have to come back to clear Chechnya"
  • Lenta.ru 10.08.00 "FSB officers disclosed the center of demolishing men training who fight in Chechnya"
  • Interfax 10.08.00 "Yastrghembsky machinery considers that graduates trained by "HALO-TRUST" organization are the rebels panders"
  • Interfax 10.08.00 "FSB has the information that international organization "HALO-TRUST" was preparing the mine explosive specialists for rebels bands at Russian territory"
  • Interfax 10.08.00 "International non-governmental organization "HALO-TRUST" cadets were engaged in intelligence activity at the territory of Chechnya and passed the data abroad - Zdanovich"