Havana Syndrome | Investigation links Russia to mysterious symptoms

Havana syndrome, this mysterious illness that has affected Canadian and American diplomats for years, could have been caused by a “directed energy” weapon used by a special unit of Russian military intelligence, according to an international investigation by several media outlets published Monday. Canadian victims are now seeking the disclosure of information about this unit as part of a lawsuit against Ottawa.

The investigation published Monday by the American channel CBS, the German magazine Der Spiegel and the independent Russian newspaper The Insider at the end of a year of work cites in particular a recently retired lieutenant-colonel from the American army, who was responsible for the working group on Havana syndrome.

This former officer, Greg Edgreen, says he is convinced that the diplomats suffered an attack from Russia, but deplores that the American government imposed a standard of proof that was far too high and prevented the finger being pointed at those responsible.

“If I’m wrong about Russia being behind the freak health incidents, I’m going to come on your show and I’m going to eat my tie,” he told CBS.

The investigation by the three media also reveals that members of a special unit of the GRU, Russian military intelligence, were rewarded for their work on new “acoustic” weapons. Members of that unit, Unit 29155, were in cities where diplomats were suddenly struck by Havana syndrome, journalists were able to determine through various paper trails.

GRU Unit 29155 has already made headlines because its members are suspected of being behind a series of clandestine actions in Europe, including the attempted assassination of Russian deserter Sergei V. Skripal on British soil.

Two Americans who suffer from Havana syndrome also claimed to recognize members of unit 29155, whom they saw lurking suspiciously around American diplomatic missions before the onset of symptoms.

The three media also report new cases of American diplomats posted in several countries who have been struck by the same mysterious illness. On Monday, a spokesperson for the US Department of Defense confirmed that an American official who attended a NATO meeting in Lithuania last year had experienced the same unexplained symptoms.

“I can tell you that it’s a priority”

“If this turns out to be true, it would be very worrying for Canada,” says Michelle Tessier, who had a long career within the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) before ending up as deputy director of operations, one year ago.

“Obviously, inside Russia, people are taking precautions. We all expect some kind of espionage from Russia. But from there to acting outside Russia and attacking diplomats: that demonstrates greater aggressiveness, if it actually turns out to be true,” she said in an interview with The Press.

M^me Tessier affirms that the Canadian authorities, who have been very discreet in public on this subject, have put a lot of effort into discovering the source of the illness which affected the diplomats. “I can tell you that it is a priority, in order to better understand what is happening,” she said.

As for a possible response from Canada, if a country was designated as guilty, it would be up to the government to decide, based in particular on the suggestions of CSIS, she underlines.

“It is certain that the intelligence services are preparing to have information to provide to the government and to Global Affairs Canada, for their decision-making. What sanctions, what individuals, what diplomats, what companies: they will look at the range of options and also talk to our partners, because there is more effect if it is done in partnership,” explains M^me Tessier.

In Canada, a group of diplomats and their relatives, including children who suffer from Havana syndrome, filed a $28 million lawsuit in 2019 against Ottawa, as they accuse the government of neglecting their safety. and having hidden information from them in this file.

The applicants, whose identities are being kept confidential in the proceedings, have asked the government to provide any information held by Canadian authorities regarding GRU Unit 29155. The disclosure of evidence held by Ottawa to prosecutors must be completed by April 5.

M^e Paul Miller, one of the lawyers representing the diplomats, says his clients cannot discuss everything they know with him because he himself does not have a government security clearance to access sensitive files related to to national security.

He still discussed recent reports on the subject with them. “They made some comments to the effect that they didn’t know Unit 29155 specifically, but they knew the GRU and they weren’t surprised,” he told The Press.

“An unfounded accusation,” replies Moscow

Moscow on Monday rejected all allegations linking Russia to the affair as “baseless.”

“This subject has been inflated in the press for several years now. And from the beginning it has often been associated with Russia,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a news conference.

“But no one has ever published any convincing evidence, so all of this is nothing more than a baseless accusation,” he said.

Global Affairs Canada did not respond to our requests for comment on this subject Monday.

With Agence France-Presse