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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Former Soviet spy to be honoured | Former Soviet spy to be honoured |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A former Soviet spy who defected to Britain will be honoured by the Queen on Thursday. | A former Soviet spy who defected to Britain will be honoured by the Queen on Thursday. |
| Oleg Gordievsky will be made a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. | Oleg Gordievsky will be made a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. |
| The one-time KGB colonel's honour is the same accolade held by fictional superspy James Bond. | The one-time KGB colonel's honour is the same accolade held by fictional superspy James Bond. |
| Gordievsky, who became the highest ranking Soviet spy to defect to the West, is being recognised for services to UK security. | |
| Disillusioned with the political situation in his homeland, he operated as a double agent during the Cold War. | Disillusioned with the political situation in his homeland, he operated as a double agent during the Cold War. |
| 'Substantial coup' | 'Substantial coup' |
| He passed on an unprecedented amount of information to British security while serving as KGB bureau chief in London. | He passed on an unprecedented amount of information to British security while serving as KGB bureau chief in London. |
| His help led to the expulsion of 25 Soviet agents working undercover in the UK. | His help led to the expulsion of 25 Soviet agents working undercover in the UK. |
| At the time, his defection was hailed by then Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe as "a very substantial coup for our security forces". | At the time, his defection was hailed by then Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe as "a very substantial coup for our security forces". |
| Mr Gordievsky was MI5's greatest asset between 1982 and 1985, when his cover was blown and he was ordered back to Moscow. | Mr Gordievsky was MI5's greatest asset between 1982 and 1985, when his cover was blown and he was ordered back to Moscow. |
| He was eventually smuggled back to the West and has since written a number of books about the operations of the KGB. | He was eventually smuggled back to the West and has since written a number of books about the operations of the KGB. |
| The CMG is used to honour individuals who have rendered important non-military services in relation to Commonwealth or foreign nations. | The CMG is used to honour individuals who have rendered important non-military services in relation to Commonwealth or foreign nations. |