The memoirs of former MI6 agent Richard Tomlinson were today released for the first time in Britain after a failed attempt to stop their publication.
More than 1,500 copies of the book The Big Breach were last night flown into the country from Russia by online information company 192.com, which claimed to be "defenders of the right to freedom of information".
Only 10,000 copies of the book have been printed by unknown Russian publishing house Narodny Variant. In a special arrangement with the publishers, 192.com said it had secured 5,000 copies for the British public.
Tomlinson, who worked for MI6 between 1991 to 1995, was jailed in 1997 for breaching the Official Secrets Act and now lives in Italy.
He reveals how the British intelligence services perfected a means of invisible writing using a humble Pentel pen.
British authorities have already attempted to stop publication of Tomlinson's revelations in a series of extracts in the Sunday Times.
But last week the Court of Appeal ruled that once the book was in the public domain, it could be made available in the UK.
Nuala Whelan, sales and marketing director for 192.com, said the company was committed to promoting the freedom of information and access to all data.
It has already been criticised by privacy campaigners for making it possible to find the home address of anyone registered to vote in Britain.
Ms Whelan said: "It is not that we are supporting the publication of secrets from Russia, but the book has been published.
"If the information is available to people in Russia, it should also be available to the British."
Allegations have been made by the prominent Soviet defector, Oleg Gordievsky, a former high-ranking KGB officer, that the Russian secret service has doctored the memoirs in an attempt to undermine the British secret service.
But 192.com issued a qualification with each copy of the new book stating that it made no judgment on its merits or authenticity.
It warned that the book was published in Russia "in circumstances which seem as much cloak-and-dagger as the story itself".
"We make no judgment on the merits of this book or the authenticity of the whole. Whatever the circumstances surrounding its publication, the result has certainly been to leave MI6 powerless to prevent its entering the public domain, and doubtless the KGB - or their successors in the now named SSB - regard that as one in the eye for the British secret service."
John Wadham, director of civil rights group Liberty, said: "It can't be right for the Russian people to be able to read about the escapades of the MI6, but for the people of this country - whose taxes pay for the MI6 - to be unable to read the same information."
Related special reports:
Net news
Special report: freedom of information
Related articles:
Net notes: The Big Breach
Comment: pinkos and patriots
Useful links:
192.com: the Big Breach
Publishers' website
