I have no idea what the percentage of volunteers are but agents choose to risk their literal life so I am sure there are plenty willing to put out for the cause. Millions of people voluntarily do all sorts of sex work. Whatever it is, we certainly do the same thing in the field.
There is the case of Maria Butina. I remember reading at the time that part of the evidence introduced at her trial were messages that she exchanged with her controllers in Moscow in which she said that she was willing to do many things for the cause, but requiring her to sleep with Republicans was just too much.
That’s hilarious but in skimming the linked article she did have an intimate relationship with at least two prominent Trump associates. At least that’s what the prosecution alleged.
Inadvertently, my ass. Silicon Valley has become populated with utterly amoral materialists steeped in resentment over the fact that 8-figure net worth doesn’t make them dateable. Most of them will sell out anyone and anything for a hot girlfriend who at least seems authentic, even if she looks authentically like a foreign agent.
Nobody can know the motives of 100% of a diverse population, and it’s likely some of them are under duress. But that type of agent necessarily has a lot of autonomy and freedom of movement, so if the role is that objectionable, they can always defect to the party that they’re spying on.
Most likely they’re just being paid extremely well. Many of them were already some type of sex worker anyway, and state or corporate actors pay a lot better than being a freelancer.
Good point. Times have changed. Tech bros didn’t really exist in significant numbers in those days. My experience is 1990-2003 in those matters.
I would like to point out that although I have been retired from the space race for 20 years I still have a good memory in case there are any middle aged/mature Chinese spies near me.
damn, just imagine you are that guy and now everytime somebody (e.g. your grandkids) googles you, THAT “russian embassy” story comes up top of the page …
kindalike the NY guy they cought (during the covid-zoom-novelty-period) masturbating at a zoom-business-meeting while erroniously leaving the camera on … this made worldwide news, IIRC
She did it, she was just (allegedly) disgusted by the experience. I feel somewhat sorry for her that her job required her to sleep with a Republican lobbyist.
Whoa, Hungary was in the Soviet Union? 
I know all those tanks were there, but, still…
It was my understanding that agents of this sort were generally groomed from childhood for the role. Though I’ll admit that that might just be salacious fiction.
Yeah I watched The Americans too. I think that’s pretty unlikely
Not in the Soviet Union proper, but definitely part of the Communist bloc.
Too recent. Back in the TV Movie of the Week era (1985), we had Secret Weapons starring a young Linda Hamilton as a simple Soviet girl thrust into the world of sexy, sexy espionage including a stint at Moscow Sex School.