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When the Cold War broke out, Dutch-born George Blake was drafted into the British intelligence organization MI6.
Among other things, he was stationed in Korea in the 1950s. This is where he is said to have announced his transfer and began working for the Soviet Union.
Now he is dead, 98 years old, writes the Russian news agency Tass.
Legendary intelligence officer George Blake passed away today, spokesman Sergei Ivanov of the Russian intelligence organization SVR tells Tass.
– He sincerely loved our country and admired the achievements of our people during the Second World War, Ivanov added.
DOUBLE AGENT: An undated photo of a younger George Blake. Photo: AP / NTB
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– American War Machine
Blake was jailed and convicted of espionage in 1960, but escaped from prison in 1966. He then fled to Russia.
In an interview with the BBC in 1990, he estimated that he had revealed the identities of around 500 Western spies, but denied the allegation that these revelations had led to 42 of them being killed.
In a 2017 Russian intelligence statement, Blake said he switched sides after seeing civilians massacred by “the American war machine” while stationed in Korea, writes CBS.
Praised by Putin
In 2007, Blake received a medal for his efforts for Russia from President Vladimir Putin.
Reveal the real 007
Putin also previously described Blake as a “brilliant professional” and said he was a man of “remarkable courage.”
“He made an invaluable contribution to providing strategic advantages and keeping the peace,” Putin said in a statement after the deaths were announced.
Blake is said to have had faith in the communist idea.
“It really has been a battle between good and evil,” Blake said in a statement from Russian intelligence in 2007.
