Investigation Uncovers Second Russian Montenegro Coup Suspect

Investigative websites claim to have uncovered the identity of one of two Russian military agents allegedly involved in the failed Montenegro coup attempt in October 2016.

A joint investigation between Bellingcat and a Russian outlet The Insider has identified a second Russian intelligence GRU officer involved in the 2016 Montenegro coup as Vladimir Nikolaevich Moiseev.

The name of the first Russian officer indicted in the Montenegro coup trial, Eduard Shishmakov, and his employment with GRU at the time of the events in Montenegro, was confirmed by the prosecution.

The second person is only known to Montenegrin prosecutors under his cover identity, Vladimir Popov. It is under this cover name that he is being sought by Interpol.

According to the investigation, Alexander Nikolaevich Moiseev was born in the small west-Siberian village of Pivkino in the Urals region of Kurgansk, not far from Chelyabinsk. He attended a local school before he moved to Tyumen, about 200 km north of Pivkino, for his military service.

According to Bellingcat, it is not certain when - during his studies or later - he was recruited by the GRU.

At some point between 2005 and 2009, he was relocated to Moscow to serve with GRU's airborne Spetsnaz unit.

The investigation also tracked Moiseev's travels. During 2011 to 2013, Popov, as he was identified by the Prosecution in Montenegro, posted extensively on social media, primarily from Central and Western Europe.

He posted photos from various locations where he allegedly attended naval-themed conferences in Europe and Georgia. His VK account - the Russian version of Facebook - was deleted in March 2017, after he was put on Interpol's Red Notice wanted list.

But by reviewing leaked Russian...