A suspected Russian spy has been arrested in Brussels. The news that Viktor Labin has been arrested first appeared in the Moscow-critical online news website 'The Insider' on Monday and has sinc e been confirmed by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. Mr Labin is currently in custody and is due to appear in court later this week.
Viktor Labin is officially a Russian businessman working for a company called Groupe D'investissement Financier that operates from the Brussels suburb of Ukkel. ‘The Insider’ and and other media outlets suspect that he is an agent of the Russian military intelligence service GRU. Mr Labin’s company is currently closed for business.
The online news website writers that the police carried out a search of Viktor Labin's home in June last year. Following the search he was arrested as part of what ‘The Insider’ says is an investigation into the smuggling of goods to Russia.
Viktor Labin and his sons are alleged to have used back channels to supply military goods, such as measuring equipment, to various Russian defence companies, thereby circumventing European sanctions.