Earlier this month, Russia received the return of eight citizens — including an assassin, hackers, and undercover agents—as part of the largest prisoner swap ever between Russia and the West.
Targeted Daughter of Opposition Leader
Among those exchanged was Pavel Rubtsov, a 42-year-old spy who had spent years infiltrating European forums under the alias "Pablo González," a Spanish journalist, according to Hotnews.
Rubtsov was arrested in Poland shortly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Independent media reports later suggested that González was, in fact, an agent of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence service.
His primary target was Janna Nemtsova, the daughter of the murdered Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.
Arrested by Polish Authorities
For years, González attended EU conferences and forums as a journalist specializing in Eastern European conflicts. Fluent in Russian, he became a familiar face in opposition circles, earning the trust of many.
His cover remained intact until Polish authorities detained him, although it wasn't until Russian President Vladimir Putin personally welcomed him back at Vnukovo Airport that many opposition figures fully grasped the extent of his deception.
González's background is complex. Born in Moscow as Pavel Rubtsov, his mother later moved to Spain, where she changed his name to Pablo González. He began working as a journalist in 2014, covering conflicts like the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbas.
He was eventually arrested by Polish authorities in February 2022 on suspicion of espionage.
