Glenn Michael Souther
Encyclopedia
Glenn Michael Souther also known as Mikhail Yevgenyevich Orlov (30th January, 1957 Hammond, Indiana
-22 June 1989 Moscow
Soviet Union
), was a U.S. Navy photographer who defected to the Soviet Union
in 1986. He later committed suicide in 1989 at 32 years of age.
, in 1975, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was trained as a photographer. He served in the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) form July 1976 to November 1978. From April 1979 to 1982 he was stationed in the United States Sixth Fleet in Italy
, where he married an Italian woman. It was in Italy in 1980 that he was recruited as a Soviet spy by experienced KGB
officer Boris Solomatin, who had earlier recruited and handled
John Anthony Walker
. According to Solomatin, Souther was an ideological spy and not motivated by money.
In 1982 he was given an honorable discharge from the Navy with a rank of petty officer first class, so that he could study Russian literature
in Old Dominion University
. Simultaneously he worked as a reservist at the Atlantic fleet intelligence center in Norfolk where he was assigned to a laboratory processing satellite-reconnaissance photos and also might have been privy to sensitive communications intercepts. In 1981 his estranged wife approached a Navy officer to report Souther as a spy. These allegations were not taken seriously until the arrest of John Anthony Walker
in 1985, only after which he was interrogated by the FBI but not charged due to a lack of evidence. Shortly thereafter, in May 1986, Souther defected to the Soviet Union.
He did not publicly resurface until July 20th, 1988 when a television program featuring interviews with him was broadcast on Soviet Central Television
. In the program, he spoke about his own disillusionment with American nuclear policies and his love for the works of Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky
. He also discussed and criticized several American intelligence operations in which he took part, including the 1986 bombing of Libya and the analysis of the Chernobyl disaster
. While in the Soviet Union, he married a Russian woman named Lena and had a daughter. He had been awarded an Order of Friendship of Peoples
. He was also one of the few foreign agents or defectors to be given officer rank in the KGB
, being made a Major
after his defection.
and he was eulogized by KGB
chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov
who considered him an important spy. He was buried in Kuntsevo Cemetery
.
Hammond, Indiana
Hammond is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. The population was 80,830 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hammond is located at ....
-22 June 1989 Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
), was a U.S. Navy photographer who defected to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1986. He later committed suicide in 1989 at 32 years of age.
Biography
Graduating from high school in Cumberland, MaineCumberland, Maine
Cumberland is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,211 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, in 1975, he enlisted in the United States Navy and was trained as a photographer. He served in the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) form July 1976 to November 1978. From April 1979 to 1982 he was stationed in the United States Sixth Fleet in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he married an Italian woman. It was in Italy in 1980 that he was recruited as a Soviet spy by experienced KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
officer Boris Solomatin, who had earlier recruited and handled
Agent handling
In intelligence organizations, agent handling is the management of agents, principal agents, and agent networks by intelligence officers typically known as case officers.-Human intelligence:...
John Anthony Walker
John Anthony Walker
John Anthony Walker, Jr. is a former United States Navy Chief Warrant Officer and communications specialist convicted of spying for the Soviet Union from 1968 to 1985, at the height of the Cold War...
. According to Solomatin, Souther was an ideological spy and not motivated by money.
In 1982 he was given an honorable discharge from the Navy with a rank of petty officer first class, so that he could study Russian literature
Russian literature
Russian literature refers to the literature of Russia or its émigrés, and to the Russian-language literature of several independent nations once a part of what was historically Russia or the Soviet Union...
in Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
. Simultaneously he worked as a reservist at the Atlantic fleet intelligence center in Norfolk where he was assigned to a laboratory processing satellite-reconnaissance photos and also might have been privy to sensitive communications intercepts. In 1981 his estranged wife approached a Navy officer to report Souther as a spy. These allegations were not taken seriously until the arrest of John Anthony Walker
John Anthony Walker
John Anthony Walker, Jr. is a former United States Navy Chief Warrant Officer and communications specialist convicted of spying for the Soviet Union from 1968 to 1985, at the height of the Cold War...
in 1985, only after which he was interrogated by the FBI but not charged due to a lack of evidence. Shortly thereafter, in May 1986, Souther defected to the Soviet Union.
He did not publicly resurface until July 20th, 1988 when a television program featuring interviews with him was broadcast on Soviet Central Television
Soviet Central Television
The Central Television of the USSR , was the state television broadcaster in the Soviet Union....
. In the program, he spoke about his own disillusionment with American nuclear policies and his love for the works of Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky
Vladimir Mayakovsky
Vladimir Vladimirovich Mayakovsky was a Russian and Soviet poet and playwright, among the foremost representatives of early-20th century Russian Futurism.- Early life :...
. He also discussed and criticized several American intelligence operations in which he took part, including the 1986 bombing of Libya and the analysis of the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
. While in the Soviet Union, he married a Russian woman named Lena and had a daughter. He had been awarded an Order of Friendship of Peoples
Order of Friendship of Peoples
The Order of Friendship of Peoples was an order of the Soviet Union, and was awarded to persons , organizations, enterprises, military units, as well as administrative subdivisions of the USSR for accomplishments in strengthening of inter-ethnic and international friendship and cooperation, for...
. He was also one of the few foreign agents or defectors to be given officer rank in the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
, being made a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
after his defection.
Death
On 22 June 1989, at the age of 32, he reportedly committed suicide by asphyxiation after shutting himself in his garage and starting his car. Russian newspapers suggested he had been disappointed by aspects of Soviet life after defecting in 1986 and was prone to depression. His death was announced in Krasnaya ZvezdaKrasnaya Zvezda
Krasnaya Zvezda is an official newspaper of Soviet and later Russian Ministry of Defence. It was founded on January 1, 1924. Today its official designation is "Central Organ of the Russian Ministry of Defence."...
and he was eulogized by KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov
Vladimir Kryuchkov
Vladimir Alexandrovich Kryuchkov was a former Soviet politician and Communist Party member, having been in the organization from 1944 until he was dismissed in 1991...
who considered him an important spy. He was buried in Kuntsevo Cemetery
Kuntsevo Cemetery
The Kuntsevo Cemetery is a cemetery servicing Kuntsevo, Moscow. It is located on the bank of the Setun River, to the south of the Mozhaisk Highway . The local five-domed church was commissioned in 1673 by Artamon Matveyev...
.