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The office building from which the suspects ran their “business”/Photo:Google street view
The Slovenian Intelligence and Security Agency, SOVA, together with the National Investigation Agency, NPU, has arrested two foreign citizens accused of spying for Russia, the daily newspaper Delo and Siol website reported. The unofficial information was also confirmed by the District Prosecutor’s Office in Ljubljana.
According to media outlet 24ur.com, the alleged Russian spies were two Argentine nationals, named Mario Roso Mayer Munos and Ludwiga Gischa, who operated through an art gallery, Art Gallery 5’14, and an information technology company DSM & IT.
They had rented a small office in a building In the Ljubljana district of Bezigrad, where they were arrested. They allegedly deal in real estate and antiques as a cover-up.
On the basis of SOVA’s statement, the prosecutor’s office initiated a preliminary investigation and in December last year asked the investigation department of the District Court in Ljubljana to conduct an investigation.
The two suspects are currently in custody. If found guilty of espionage, they could serve a prison sentence of six months to five years.
The case is seen as a success due to the complexity of the detection process; spies with false identities and citizenships are difficult to find and connect to Russia.
Due to its geostrategic position on the cusp between Central Europe and the Balkans, Slovenia is interesting for foreign agents, security expert and former director of SOVA Iztok Podbregar told Delo.
