The Unfolding Saga of Pablo González / Pavel Rubtsov: A Case Study in Russian Disinformation

A Deep Dive into the Intersection of Espionage, Propaganda, and European Politics

Pablo González Yagüe aka Pavel Alekseyevich Rubtsov and his spy case does not want to go away - nor should it. It should act as a wake up call for the whole West.  

Based on Ferran Barber's insightful article "La nueva vida de Pablo González, el 'espía' español de Putin: reside en un barrio 'pijo' de Moscú y tiene ofertas de medios rusos" ("The New Life of Pablo González, Putin's Spanish 'Spy': Living in a 'Posh' Moscow Neighborhood and Receiving Offers from Russian Media"), published in El Español, the recent developments surrounding Pavel Rubtsov, provide a revealing look into Russia's sophisticated strategies in espionage and disinformation. Arrested by Polish counterintelligence on charges of spying for Russia's military intelligence agency, GRU, González's case has become a focal point for understanding how the Kremlin manipulates both Russian and European societies through mass media.

In order to influence the conservative Polish government to admit its mistake and release the "journalist" Pavel Rubtsov, a large scale media and political campaign was organized.