A familiar business: Russia’s trade missions are replacing GRU spies with the friends and relatives of influential officials

In Austria, Russia's trade representative had his position revoked in August 2025. The removal of 67-year-old Andrei Plotnikov, a former military intelligence officer, was said to be due to his contract expiring. Plotnikov, who had been in Austria for four years, was not only a colonel but also the deputy GRU station chief in Vienna. He oversaw the Russian-Austrian Business Council, which ceased operations following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Plotnikov's espionage activities extended to local politicians, journalists, and top business figures. He wrote a book, "The Mystery of Rudolf Hess’s Death: A Warden's Diary," about the late former close Hitler associate Rudolf Hess. Following the Insider's reporting on high-profile spy scandals, Austrian authorities have tightened surveillance on Russian diplomats and journalists.

In Vienna, the Foreign Ministry rejected all trade representative candidates proposed by Moscow. Artem Klimentyev, Russia's trade representative in Austria, was appointed, though his mother, Svetlana, has significant ties to financial circles and the Russian economy. Despite the reshuffle, trade turnover between Austria and Russia continues to decline, with a 74% decrease year-on-year in 2025.

Across the globe, in Algeria, Ivan Nalich, another GRU officer, was also removed from his position as trade representative. Nalich, a career GRU officer, has a history of espionage, having worked in North Africa for eight years and built a network of contacts among military officers, officials, and public figures. His grandfather served in the KGB. Nalich's role in Algeria, the "gateway to Africa," further highlights the extensive reach of Russia's trade missions in the region.