Exposed as spies and kicked out of the country, two Russian agents are seeking the return of their personal property from the United States, including computer equipment that may have aided their spying.

 

Vladimir and Lidia Guryev (aka Richard and Cynthia Murphy) were deported in July 2010 along with other members of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service after the U.S. government discovered they were part of a spy ring. But as the Guryevs see it, trying to steal American intelligence shouldn’t prevent them from getting their property back. In addition to the return of cars and $190,000 in a bank account, they’d like their computers, digital photos and computer files returned to them.

 

Although the Guryevs claim that the photos have no “material value” and are only “dear” to them, the truth may be more sinister. As part of their spying, the Guryevs were using a steganography program which allowed them to hide text files within computer-stored images that they later uploaded to websites as a way to communicate with other sleeper agents.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Russian Spies to FBI: Give Us Our Data Back! (by Adam Rawnsley, Wired)

Two Members of Russian 'Spy Ring' File Property Claim against U.S. (RIA Novosti)