- It was aired on state-owned Channel 1 to millions of potential spies for the UK
Putin’s media attack dogs have made an embarrassing gaffe by broadcasting MI6 chief’s plea to Russians to ‘join hands with us’ and spy for Britain.
The state-owned Channel 1, which is the second most watched in the country, aired an hour-long profile on MI6 chief Richard Moore, 60, as part of a show on Russia’s ‘enemies’.
Presenter Maria Butina, who used to be a Russian spy, included a clip of Moore’s appeal to Russians made in Prague in July.
In the video message, Moore said Russians were appalled by the war and hence turning to MI6.
‘Our door is always open,’ he added as he urged displeased Russians to ‘join hands with us’, according to the Sun.
The state-owned Channel 1, which is the second most watched in the country, aired an hour-long profile on MI6 chief Richard Moore, 60, as part of a show on Russia ‘s ‘enemies’ (pictured: a screengrab from the broadcast)
![In the video message, Moore (pictured in 2021) said Russians were appalled by the war and hence turning to MI6. 'Our door is always open,' he added as he urged displeased Russians to 'join hands with us', according to the Sun](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/01/78804959-12848639-image-a-69_1702259911006.jpg)
In the video message, Moore (pictured in 2021) said Russians were appalled by the war and hence turning to MI6. ‘Our door is always open,’ he added as he urged displeased Russians to ‘join hands with us’, according to the Sun
![Presenter Maria Butina (pictured in 2021), who used to be a Russian spy, included a clip of Moore's appeal to Russians made in Prague in July](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/11/01/78804937-12848639-image-a-67_1702259818558.jpg)
Presenter Maria Butina (pictured in 2021), who used to be a Russian spy, included a clip of Moore’s appeal to Russians made in Prague in July
His message to Russian citizens was kept quiet in the country’s media and it is not clear whether station managers realised what they were broadcasting.
Experts said that the airing of the appeal had helped them reach millions of potential spies, many of are thought to be people in politics, which is Butina’s target audience.
‘The plug was priceless. In Russia, you simply do not broadcast an invitation to work for a hostile intelligence agency,’ Russia expert Professor Mark Galeotti told the Sun.
Moore’s appeal was even translated into Russian and was placed at the beginning of the show.
Host Butina was convicted of being a spy in America in 2019 after she tried to offer sex in exchange for jobs for the NRA, the country’s gun lobby.
She was deported to Russia following her conviction.
Since her return, she works as an MP for Putin’s United Russia party and as a presenter for Channel 1.
Her new show ‘The Dolls of the Heir Tutti’ broadcasts profiles on ‘enemies’ of Russia like Moore.
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