Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Moscow use old reports that the new head of MI6’s grandfather was a Nazi spy chief to feed the narrative of a Western neo-Nazi conspiracy.
Moscow use old reports that the new head of MI6’s grandfather was a Nazi spy chief to feed the narrative of a Western neo-Nazi conspiracy.
What is happening?
The Kremlin has seized on historical claims about the new head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli’s, ancestry, using her recent appointment to reignite accusations of Western neo-Nazism.
Past links to Nazi Germany
Russia claims her grandfather’s past links to Nazi Germany reflect a broader ideological trend in the West—a narrative dismissed by critics as baseless propaganda.
Metreweli Named First Female Chief of MI6
Earlier this month, Blaise Metreweli was appointed as the new chief of the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known as MI6.
Her appointment marks a significant moment in British intelligence history, with Metreweli becoming the first woman to hold the position publicly known as “C”.
The Dobrowolski Connection
Reports surfaced that Metreweli’s paternal grandfather, Constantine Dobrowolski, had defected from the Soviet Red Army to work as a Nazi informant in Ukraine’s Chernihiv region during World War II.
These revelations have sparked controversy but also raise questions about generational responsibility.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry Pushes Controversial Claims
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Metreweli’s appointment part of a deliberate effort by the West to promote descendants of Nazis.
She cited it as proof of a growing neo-Nazi undercurrent in Western politics—an assertion widely rejected by Western officials and analysts.
Zakharova Targets Other Western Leaders
Zakharova didn’t stop with Metreweli. She went on to name German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, pointing to their relatives’ wartime service in the Wehrmacht as further “evidence” of this so-called trend.
Weaponizing Family Histories for Political Gain
Critics argue that Russia’s attempts to link current political leaders to their ancestors’ actions is a strategic move to undermine Western unity and distract from its own actions in Ukraine.
These tactics have been labeled as classic disinformation by global watchdogs.
Putin’s Ongoing “Denazification” Justification
President Vladimir Putin has long used the narrative that Ukraine is governed by a “neo-Nazi regime” as justification for the 2022 invasion. This new line of attack continues his administration’s broader campaign of historical revisionism to legitimize its aggression.
UK Government Pushes Back
A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office defended Metreweli, stating she neither knew nor met her paternal grandfather.
They emphasized the complex nature of many Eastern European family histories, shaped by war, occupation, and political upheaval.
Metreweli’s Career in Intelligence
Joining MI6 in 1999, Metreweli has held multiple operational roles across Europe and the Middle East.
Her decades-long service has earned her a reputation for competence and dedication, traits seen as essential for her new role during a tense global climate.
