FBI files report on Russian spies in Brazil
An FBI report by the US federal police provided details Role of alleged Russian spies in Brazil. A suspect who pretended to be Brazilian had a company in RJ and did business with the federal government he is missing. Others were caught leaving the country to practice the professions they disguised themselves as.
Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov, 37, has photos from 2008 of him wearing a Russian Armed Forces uniform. However, he is accused of using a Brazilian name and engaging in illegal espionage and encouraging fraud stemming from illegal activities in the United States.
Cherkasov reportedly came to Brazil in 2012, where he settled under a fake Brazilian identity with the name Victor Muller Ferreiraborn April 4, 1989 in Niterói. Disguised as a student, he moved to the US for an internship in 2018 and then returned to the country.
1 of 4 Victor Muller Ferreira was the name of Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov in Brazil — Photo: reproduction Victor Muller Ferreira was the name of Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov in Brazil — Photo: reproduction
Introduced by himself as the son of a Brazilian mother and a Portuguese father who grew up in Argentina, “Ferreira” was arrested in April 2022 after being deported by Dutch immigration authorities. Since then he has been in prison and is being investigated for espionage, money laundering and corruption. He has already been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Cherkasov is just one of the cases of Russians suspected of spying with fake Brazilian passports. In October 2022, a Russian colonel was arrested at a Norwegian university posing as a Brazilian. And a British newspaper revealed another possible Russian spy, who claimed to have been born in Brazil to Austrian parents, posed as a Brazilian tech entrepreneur and even had deals with the federal government.
2 of 4 Russian colonel served José Assis Giammarria while he was in the countryside — Photo: reproduction Russian colonel served José Assis Giammarria while he was in the country — Photo: reproduction
A man who worked with this businessman, who answered as Gerhard Daniel Campos Vittich in Brazil, expressed surprise at the information. Without identifying himself, he said the businessman “understood the subject very well.” Is this kept in touch with him after he was out of the country.
3 of 4 Gerhard Daniel Campos Vittich even said that he would return to Brazil when he already returned to Russia — Photo: Reproduction Gerhard Daniel Campos Vittich even said that he would return to Brazil when he already returned to Russia — Photo: reproduction
“I think he brought it from China and resold it here. He understood the topic of 3D printing very well. We didn’t know anything personal about him,” he explains.
4 of 4 Man who worked with Gerhard Daniel Campos Vittich admits he is a Russian spy — Photo: Reproduction Man who worked with Gerhard Daniel Campos Vittich admits he is a Russian spy — Photo: reproduction
Brazilian companies speak out
The Ministry of Defense said the contracts, which appear on the transparency portal, were signed by the Navy and Army commands.
In a note, the Brazilian Navy said it has purchased occasional services related to printing consumables from the company 3D Rio during operations to combat Covid19, but that the purchased products do not enhance the secrecy and security of the Navy’s operations endangered and actions prove no relationship to Gerhard Daniel Campos Wittich.
The army leadership and the Ministry of Culture did not react to the production of TV Globo. The federal police, on the other hand, said they would not comment on ongoing investigations. For their part, the Itamaraty and the American Consulate declined to comment.
Eventually, the Russian consulate was searched by the TV Globo team, with no response.