Akhmedov, Ismail Gusseynovich

(1904–?)

   Akhmedov, a GRU officer under press cover, was serving in Berlin when World War II began. Rather than being repatriated to Moscow with other diplomats and intelligence officers, Moscow assigned him to Istanbul, again under press cover. On receiving orders to return to Moscow a few years later, Akhmedov left the Soviet mission and requested political asylum. He apparently feared arrest and execution for operational failures. Akhmedov contacted the British after the war. Unfortunately, the British intelligence station commander in Turkey was Kim Philby, who made little effort to debrief this important defector. Akhmedov later wrote a good autobiography; his information was not appreciated in the West until it was too late.