Former spy's second hunger strike

Newsnight spoke to Mr Makarov during his hunger strike in 2005

A former Soviet Cold War spy who moved to the UK is again on hunger strike in protest at his treatment by the British government.

Viktor Makarov spent 13 years as a member of the KGB before he was arrested and held in a Russian labour camp on suspicion of being a double agent.

He had been a double agent, passing secrets to British intelligence for two years. After five year's detention in a labour camp in the Arctic Circle he fled to the UK in 1992 believing he would be looked after by the authorities and offered a job in intelligence.

But he says he found himself shunned by the intelligence services and living in increasing poverty. He is not officially recognised as a defector, denying him a pension.

Settlement

Makarov was never charged by the Russian authorities and, after Glasnost, was released and smuggled to the UK with the aid of MI6.

Historian David Khan, speaking to Newsnight in 2005 said Makarov, "was an asset to the UK government, no doubt about it.

"The United Kingdom took the information that Viktor Makarov had, wrung him dry and left him to hang out in the cold."

Makarov was filmed by French TV while in prison in the Soviet union

Makarov's dream of a job in the UK did not materialise. He was never debriefed and was given only a small sum to make a life in Britain. He was later paid £65,000 after taking his case to court - an agreement the Government views as a final settlement.

Litvinenko

But the years of detention in extremely harsh conditions have taken their toll on both his physical and mental health and Mr Makarov believes he is due a defector's pension to help pay for his medical bills and day-to-day living.

He also believes his life is under threat, particularly since the killing of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian spy who fled to the UK and was poisoned with Polonium 210. He believes he is considered part of the same group as Litvinenko.

"My life is hopeless, where else can I go? I have a mortgage and debts that cannot be paid off.

"I have tried to find work and am living on disability allowance - I don't know how long I will keep getting this money."

Having begun a second hunger strike - he spent many weeks without food in early 2005 - he says this is his last desperate attempt to be recognised for his work as a spy for Britain - for which he could have been executed at the time - and live a life to which he feels he is entitled.