Dave Davies

So the Russian government begins to revive the program under Vladimir Putin. And so once again, they are now filing reports on things they're observing in the United States. Unfortunately for them, the FBI got onto them in part because a Russian agent who knew all about this, who was right in the middle of this program, flipped and started providing information.

And in 2010, the FBI swooped in and arrested them. Tell us what happened that day in Cambridge.

And in 2010, the FBI swooped in and arrested them. Tell us what happened that day in Cambridge.

And in 2010, the FBI swooped in and arrested them. Tell us what happened that day in Cambridge.

Now what's fascinating about this is that at the time that this arrest happens, I mean the boys have never been told anything about their true identities. As far as they know, they're all Canadians and their grandparents live so far away they never see them. There are various excuses for that. The family had been planning – they had traveled a lot but they had been planning a trip to Moscow.

Now what's fascinating about this is that at the time that this arrest happens, I mean the boys have never been told anything about their true identities. As far as they know, they're all Canadians and their grandparents live so far away they never see them. There are various excuses for that. The family had been planning – they had traveled a lot but they had been planning a trip to Moscow.

Now what's fascinating about this is that at the time that this arrest happens, I mean the boys have never been told anything about their true identities. As far as they know, they're all Canadians and their grandparents live so far away they never see them. There are various excuses for that. The family had been planning – they had traveled a lot but they had been planning a trip to Moscow.

They had been all over Europe but never to Russia. And so they had visas to go there. The couple are taken to an American court where they have to admit their guilt. And you wrote a fascinating story because you talked to the two boys in 2018 and wrote the story in The Guardian. But if I have this right –

They had been all over Europe but never to Russia. And so they had visas to go there. The couple are taken to an American court where they have to admit their guilt. And you wrote a fascinating story because you talked to the two boys in 2018 and wrote the story in The Guardian. But if I have this right –

They had been all over Europe but never to Russia. And so they had visas to go there. The couple are taken to an American court where they have to admit their guilt. And you wrote a fascinating story because you talked to the two boys in 2018 and wrote the story in The Guardian. But if I have this right –

The sons who were taken to a hotel by the FBI didn't really know what to think about any of this and they have a brief conversation with their mom in court. She's still wearing an orange jumpsuit from prison, right? What is that conversation like?

The sons who were taken to a hotel by the FBI didn't really know what to think about any of this and they have a brief conversation with their mom in court. She's still wearing an orange jumpsuit from prison, right? What is that conversation like?

The sons who were taken to a hotel by the FBI didn't really know what to think about any of this and they have a brief conversation with their mom in court. She's still wearing an orange jumpsuit from prison, right? What is that conversation like?

Yeah, it is a fascinating story when suddenly their lives are turned upside down, these boys. The couple stays in Russia. You know, they hadn't been there in decades. What were their lives like? Are you still in touch with them? Are they comfortable with it? You did speak with Elena, right?

Yeah, it is a fascinating story when suddenly their lives are turned upside down, these boys. The couple stays in Russia. You know, they hadn't been there in decades. What were their lives like? Are you still in touch with them? Are they comfortable with it? You did speak with Elena, right?

Yeah, it is a fascinating story when suddenly their lives are turned upside down, these boys. The couple stays in Russia. You know, they hadn't been there in decades. What were their lives like? Are you still in touch with them? Are they comfortable with it? You did speak with Elena, right?

And what about the two boys, Timothy and Alexander? Do you know where they live, what they do, how they regard their parents?

And what about the two boys, Timothy and Alexander? Do you know where they live, what they do, how they regard their parents?

And what about the two boys, Timothy and Alexander? Do you know where they live, what they do, how they regard their parents?

You spent more than a decade reporting in Russia. You mentioned earlier that you're on a blacklist, which prevents you from traveling there now. How did that happen? What got you there?