Edinburgh University professor shared information with fake Russian spy in bid to discredit group investigating Syrian war crimes
- Paul McKeigue had emailed ‘Ivan’, who he was led to believe was a Russian spy
- He asked ‘Ivan’ to help him expose details about Cija and its director Bill Wiley
- Emails were written by Cija staff, and Mr McKeigue says he did nothing wrong
An Edinburgh University professor shared information with a fake Russian spy in a bid to discredit a non-profit group investigating Syrian war crimes.
Epidemiologist Paul McKeigue had been attempting to expose details about the Commission for International Justice and Accountability – which works to collect and preserve evidence of potential crimes committed in Syria.
He asked a man he knew as ‘Ivan’ to help him gather evidence that the Cija’s director, Bill Wiley, worked for the CIA, the BBC reported.
It later emerged that emails Mr McKeigue believed to be from ‘Ivan’ were instead written by members of the Cija, who allegedly ‘tempted’ the professor to believe he was speaking to a Russian spy.
Mr McKeigue has insisted he did not do anything wrong during the exchange, claiming he ‘kept an open mind’ about who he may have been speaking to.
Epidemiologist Paul McKeigue (above) had been attempting to expose details about the Commission for International Justice and Accountability
Throughout the correspondence with ‘Ivan’, he allegedly shared a draft of a critical report into the Cija he had co-authored with two members of the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media.
The Working Group, which Mr McKeigue is also part of, was established to ‘facilitate research into the areas of organised persuasive communication and media coverage, with respect to the 2011-present conflict in Syria including related topics.’
It is understood they dispute that Russia and Syria have committed chemical weapons attacks.
The professor had also asked ‘Ivan’ for information about a woman the Cija’s director was alleged to have slept with, and asked the apparent Russian spy whether Mr Wiley was a cocaine user.
The Cija, run by Bill Wiley (above), works to collect and preserve evidence of potential war crimes committed in Syria
The Cija works to gather evidence of crimes that are ‘beyond the reach of international and domestic justice institutions.’ Pictured: Syria
The conversation came about after Mr McKeigue attempted to contact Mr Wiley, who recognised the sender’s name and decided not to respond.
The email had told Mr Wiley that Mr McKeigue and his colleagues were investigating the Cija – which he already knew – and asked questions regarding companies the director had registered in his name.
Hours later, Mr McKeigue received an email from an anonymous source who said: ‘My office heard from London yesterday that you have some questions about Syria. Perhaps we can help you get to the truth.’
The pair began corresponding about the Cija and Mr Wiley, and the anonymous sender soon started signing his emails ‘Ivan.’
Currently, documents gathered by the non-profit are being used in a war crimes trial in which a former Syrian military intelligence officer is accused of torture
It was said the fake Russian had made references to his headquarters in Moscow and the English emails had included scattered spelling mistakes.
However, it emerged the emails were written by members of the Cija.
The group works to gather evidence of crimes that are ‘beyond the reach of international and domestic justice institutions.’
Currently, documents gathered by the non-profit are being used in a war crimes trial in which a former Syrian military intelligence officer is accused of torture.
It is alleged Mr McKeigue holds the view that Western NGOs are acting on behalf of the CIA and MI6 to spread false information about the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.
MailOnline has contacted Mr McKeigue for comment.