Former KGB Colonel Honored as CMG by Queen

Via BBC News -

Former KGB colonel Oleg Gordievsky, who became the highest-ranking Soviet spy to defect to the west, has been honoured by the Queen.

He has been appointed a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George.

The recognition in the Birthday Honours Diplomatic List means he now holds the same title as book spook James Bond.

And like 007, Mr Gordievsky operated in the murky world of secret assignments, assassinations and allegations.

Disillusioned with the political situation in his homeland, he operated as a double agent during the Cold War.

He passed on an unprecedented amount of information to British security while serving as KGB bureau chief in London.

His help led to the expulsion of 25 Soviet agents working undercover in the UK.

At the time, his defection was hailed by then Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe as "a very substantial coup for our security forces".

Mr Gordievsky was MI5's greatest asset between 1982 and 1985, when his cover was blown and he was ordered back to Moscow.

He was eventually smuggled back to the West and has since written a number of books about the operations of the KGB.

Fictional superspy James Bond was made a CMG in Ian Fleming's novel From Russia With Love.

Mr Gordievsky's honour is for services to the security of the UK.