Page 47 of The Cellist

It was Arkady who chose the name of the unit hiding in plain sight within NevaNeft Holdings. He wanted something punchy and memorable, something that paid homage to the musical career denied to him by the rector of the Leningrad Conservatory. Like all young Russian pianists, he had studied the masterworks of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, whom he revered. But he had also memorized several sonatas written by the Austrian composer regarded as the father of both the string quartet and the modern symphony. He ran it by VladimirVladimirovich, who granted his approval. Two weeks later, after Arkady’s lawyers filed the necessary paperwork with the Swiss Commercial Registry, the Haydn Group SA was born.

“What sort of work does it do?”

“On paper? Market research and management consulting.”

“And in reality?”

“Propaganda, political warfare, disinformation, subversion, influence operations, the occasional assassination of pro-democracy advocates and exiled Russian billionaires.”

“Active measures.”

Sergei Morosov nodded in agreement. “All designed to undermine the West from within.”

“I thought the SVR and GRU were already doing a fine job of that.”

“They are,” said Morosov. “But the Haydn Group provides an additional layer of plausible deniability because it’s a private business operating outside Russia. It’s quite small, about twenty employees. They’re all former intelligence officers, the best of the best, and very well paid.”

“How much operational latitude does Arkady have?”

“For all intents and purposes, he’s the director of an elite intelligence service. But he gets Volodya’s approval for the big stuff.”

“Like killing Viktor Orlov?”

“Sure.”

“And the run-of-the-mill stuff?”

Much of it, said Morosov, involved covertly funneling money to political and social movements that were either pro-Kremlin or anti-establishment, especially those movements on the farright that were opposed to immigration and the economic integration of Europe. The Haydn Group had also created a chain of phantom think tanks and online public policy journals that presented the Kremlin’s point of view in a favorable light and questioned the effectiveness of Western democracy and liberalism.

But the unit’s most effective financial tool, said Morosov, was the promise of Russian riches. Politicians, lawyers, bankers, businessmen, even senior intelligence officers: all were targeted for corruption with Russian money. Most accepted it without reservation. And once they had taken the initial bait—the contribution, the bribe, the no-lose business opportunity—there was no wriggling off the hook. They were wholly owned assets of Kremlin Inc.

“Have you ever wondered why so many members of the British and French aristocracy are suddenly pro-Russian? It’s because Arkady is buying them off one lord, duke, earl, viscount, and marquis at a time. Money is Russia’s greatest weapon, Allon. A nuclear bomb can only be dropped once. But money can be wielded every day with no fallout and no threat of mutually assured destruction. Russian money is rotting the institutional integrity of the West from within. And Arkady Akimov is the one writing the checks.”

“You seem to have a rather firm grasp of the Haydn Group’s activities, Sergei.”

“Arkady and I were comrades from the bad old days in Berlin. He’s also quite rich, not to mention a close friend of the boss of bosses. I made a point of staying on his good side.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“A couple of months before you abducted me. We met atNevaNeft headquarters in Geneva. Arkady owns the building on the western side of the Place du Port. His office is on the top floor.”

“And the Haydn Group?”

“They’re one floor down, the sixth. Everything is state of the art. Biometric locks, soundproof glass, secure phones. And computers,” said Morosov. “Lots and lots of computers.”

“What are they using them for?”

“What do you think?”

“I think the Haydn Group is running a troll factory in the middle of Geneva.”

“A very good one,” said Morosov.

“Do you think Arkady is trying to influence the outcome of the American election?”

“I’ve been out of circulation for some time, Allon.”

“And if you were to hazard a guess?”