“Pablo González is a spy, I am 100% sure of it,” denounces the eminent Russian dissident Nemtsova.

This same exchange, which involved several imprisoned Russian dissidents, led to the Spanish-Russian conflict. back in Moscowwhere he was received with honors, appearing in pictures shaking hands with Vladimir Putin at a public event. Nemtsova, who is now living in Europe after the murder of her father, a well-known Kremlin opponent, said she had become suspicious of González’s “strange activities” in 2019, even though she had known him since 2016.

As he recently told the BBCGonzález had first approached her in Strasbourg, at an event related to the investigation into her father’s murder. There, the journalist, of Spanish origin but with Russian roots, asked him for an interview for a newspaper The Basque Country. Although she initially rejected the proposal, she claims that Pablo González managed, over time, to integrate into her environment, attending the events she attended, recording interviews and interacting with other opposition activists.

“At first I was reluctant, but he persisted. He quickly became a recurring figure in the circles I moved in,” Nemtsova explained. However, over time, he began to notice behaviors that seemed suspicious to him. “I shared these suspicions with some people, but they told me that I was exaggerating, that it was paranoia,” he recalled. Nemtsova, remembering those moments of doubt. “But I was absolutely right,” he added, now justifying his decision to speak out publicly. “The threat is not something you only read about in books or see in movies. It is something very real and very close“.

Gonzalez’s arrest

Pablo González, born in Russia under Pavel Rubtsovmoved to Spain with his mother in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union. His grandfather had been evacuated to the USSR during the Spanish Civil Warwhich allowed him and his mother to obtain Spanish nationality. Over time, González trained as journalist and started working as freelance, mainly for Spanish-language media, covering the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh, Ukraine and Syria.

But his career took a radical turn. 2022 when he was arrested at Przemysl, east of Poland, while covering the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Polish authorities accused him of espionage, alleging that he was collecting sensitive information for the Russian government. According to the official version, González had been observed for several years before his arrest and his activity intensified with the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine.

During his time in prison, González was kept in solitary confinement and information about his case remained secret, generating speculation and controversy around his personality. Meanwhile, in Spain, his wife campaigned for his release, arguing that his detention was a miscarriage of justice and that González was simply a journalist to fulfill one’s duty.

The accusations

Zhanna Nemtsova, who provided evidence of Gonzalez’s activities to the criminal investigation, says she has no doubt about his guilt. Although for legal reasons he cannot share specific details due to a confidentiality agreement, he told the BBC that the evidence was conclusive. “What I saw leaves no doubt. I was collecting information and reporting it to the Russian authorities”, he assured.

The reports uncovered by Polish investigators included minute details about the movements, contacts And profiles of several activists Russian opponents in Europe, including those close to Nemtsova. One of these reports allegedly concerned a Polish citizen, while others contained information about students at a summer journalism school organized by Nemtsova.

Additionally, investigators discovered emails that Gonzalez had copied from a laptop that had been loaned to him. While it is unclear to whom he sent these reports, details were included such as: shipping costs and what people mentioned they ate during their meetings. In some cases, the reports included questions added by a superior, asking for more details.

The official indictment charged Gonzalez with espionage, accusing him of providing intelligence, spreading disinformation and conducting reconnaissance operations on behalf of Russian military intelligence, the GRU. Although some of the reporting seemed sloppy, with information obtained from open sources, Nemtsova insists that Gonzalez’s activities were would you be And dangerous.

Back to Russia

Pablo Gonzalez’s return to Moscow after his release in the prisoner exchange was a carefully orchestrated event. Upon arrival, was welcomed as a herowhich has raised even more suspicions about his true role in the events that led to his arrest, particularly in Spain.

During a television appearance on a channel controlled by the Kremlin, Gonzalez, now identified as Pavel Rubtsov, was seen walking in a Moscow suburb, reminiscing about his childhood in the city. In his statements, denied all accusations against him and assured that he had been the victim of the pressures and threats by Polish authorities. “They threatened me and put pressure on me,” he said. “I asked, ‘What did I do?’ and they said, ‘You know.’ But I didn’t know.

Despite his public statements, many people in Europe and Spain continue to believe that González was in fact a spy. Even some of his old acquaintances, such as Ilya Yashin, A prominent Russian opposition activist, also released in the swap, expressed surprise at learning of his double life. “I never suspected it, but now it all makes sense,” he said.

The impact in Europe

The case of Pablo Gonzalez has had a profound impact in Europe, particularly in the activists and the dissidents Russians living on the continent. The revelation that one of their own had been informing Russian authorities for years has generated a wave of mistrust and fear.

In 2018 and 2019, the foundation that Nemtsova runs in honor of her father invited González to Prague to give a lecture on war journalism. Today, Czech media reported that the local academy could have been “infiltrated” by Russian spies, leading some to question the security of educational institutions in Europe.

A doctoral student, Aliaksandr Parshankou, sent a letter to the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague, suggesting that the Nemtsov Foundation could pose a threat to the national security from the Czech Republic. Although Parshankou admits he has no concrete evidence, his comments have fueled debate about the safety of dissidents in Europe.

Nemtsova, for her part, called the accusations “without foundation And manipulator”. He does, however, acknowledge that the episode has changed his view of security in Europe. “I am a victim of espionage“, he said. “It can happen to people like me, but it does not mean that we represent a threat to the Czech Republic.”

An uncertain future

Pablo Gonzalez’s future remains uncertain. Although Spain does not deprive of citizenship those who are suspected of espionage, Gonzalez would have to reapply for his Spanish passport if he wanted to return to the country. However, it seems unlikely that he will do so while an espionage case is open in the European Union.

Regarding his life in Russia, Some experts suggest that Gonzalez could end up becoming a public figure in Kremlin-controlled media, following in the footsteps of other unmasked spies who have adopted similar roles. Others speculate he may try to rebuild his life away from the public spotlight, though his options will be limited.

Zhanna Nemtsova, for her part, has increased her caution and security measures after this episode. “Now I always think about security,” she admits. “Before, I thought about my security because I left Russia. But I didn’t think about security in Europe. Now, of course, I think about it and I am more careful.”