Book containing defector Tretyakov's memoirs published in the US

In January 2008 the book Comrade J.: The Untold Secrets of Russia's Master Spy in America after the End of the Cold War, written by journalist Pete Earley was published in the United States. The book is based on conversations with Sergei Tretyakov, a career KGB/SVR officer.

Since 1995 he worked in New-York in the position of SVR deputy rezident (station chief) under the diplomatic cover of first secretary at Russia's mission at the United Nations. As was revealed later, Tretyakov was a double-agent passing secrets to Washington since approximately 1997.

In October 2000 Tretyakov disappeared with his wife, daughter and cat, telling the SVR in a statement: "My resignation will not harm the interests of the country."

It was not until the end of January 2001 that his defection was first reported by the Associated Press, whereafter the news was broken in the Russian media, which reported that Russia's Foreign Ministry was insisting on having a consular meeting with him in order to make sure he was not forcefully kept by the US side. On 10 February 2001, it was revealed, with reference to "several American officials familiar with the case", that the defector "was in fact an officer in the S.V.R., Russia's foreign intelligence service, successor to the Soviet-era K.G.B."

The SVR responded to the book's release by calling it "self-publicity based on treachery."

Tretyakov died on June 13, 2010.

See also at Agentura.Ru:

• 08.02.2008 Interview with Tretyakov and Peter Earley, the author of "Comrade J"