莫斯科惊现英国间谍石头

Grainy images' secretly taped by Russian agents, the subject, a British diplomat¹ -- part of an alleged² spy ring in the Russian capital. The country's Federal Security Service, the old KGB has named four British diplomats³ linking their activities to the funding of non-governmental organizations operating in Russia. The statement from the British Foreign Office was careful to deny this,

"We are concerned and surprised at these allegations" it said," We reject any allegation of improper⁴ conducts in our dealings with Russian NGOs."

It was this Russian news program that revealed the scandal. The report featured what it said was a highly sophisticated spying device hidden on the outskirts⁵ of Moscow, inside a rock. Russian agents said at first they thought it was a stone like any other, but it was found to contain sensitive equipment, allegedly used to transmit information, to inform Russian informants. The gadget⁶, straight out of a James Bond movie, Russian security officials say spies could transmit information to the rock via a handheld device to be stored until picked up.

In the process of our investigation⁷, we found a Russian man who worked for the British security services. He was arrested and confessed. He said he was hired by the British who gave him special equipment when he was on a business trip to London. Secret cameras filmed all four of the named British diplomats visiting the rock. Russian agents say there seems to have been a problem with the device, but it was eventually picked up and carried away by one of the diplomats.

This is an intrigue⁸ could well raise diplomatic tensions between these old Cold War rivals, but the real issue that's causing concern at the moments is the linkage⁹ being made by Russia between the spying and the work of non-governmental organizations here. There are fears among democracy activists¹⁰ ,that could be used as a reason by the Kremlin to further crackdown. Already the Russian president Vladimir Putin has been sharply criticized in the West for allowing legislation limiting the activities of NGOs. Russian TV and documents showing large sums were paid by the British government to certain groups. Payments authorized¹¹ by one of those accused of spying. It's a connection the British government rejects.
"It is well known that the UK government has financially supported projects implemented¹² by Russian NGOs in the field of human rights and civil society," it says, "All our assistance is given openly and aims to support the development of a healthy civil society in Russia.

But this whole affair raises questions about that civil society, how independent is the Russian media; how prepared is the Kremlin to discredit¹³ non-governmental groups. And even though the Cold War is over, it seems the old intrigue lives on.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

3 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

5 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

6 gadget   

n.小巧的机械，精巧的装置，小玩意儿

参考例句：

• This gadget isn't much good.这小机械没什么用处。
• She has invented a nifty little gadget for undoing stubborn nuts and bolts.她发明了一种灵巧的小工具用来松开紧固的螺母和螺栓。

7 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 intrigue   

vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋

参考例句：

• Court officials will intrigue against the royal family.法院官员将密谋反对皇室。
• The royal palace was filled with intrigue.皇宫中充满了勾心斗角。

9 linkage   

n.连接；环节

参考例句：

• In their monographic treatment of linkage,they have emphasized this especially.他们在论连锁的专题文章中特别强调了这点。
• Occasionally,problems with block inheritance or linkage are encountered.有时会遇到区段遗传或连锁问题。

10 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

12 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

13 discredit   

vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑

参考例句：

• Their behaviour has bought discredit on English football.他们的行为败坏了英国足球运动的声誉。
• They no longer try to discredit the technology itself.他们不再试图怀疑这种技术本身。