mˈɪkaɪl tɹˈaɪlɪsɚ, ðə tʃˈiːf ʌvðɪ ˈɑːɡpuː fˈɔːɹən bɹˈæntʃ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti tˈuː nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːɾi, hˌuːz pˈætɹənɪdʒ ˈæɡeɪbkˌɑːv ɛndʒˈɔɪd, ɛnvˈɪʒənd ˌɪstˌænbˈʊl æz ɐ bˈeɪs ʌv sˈoʊviət ˈɛspɪənˌɑːʒ æktˈɪvᵻɾi fɚðɪ ɛntˈaɪɚ nˌɪɹ ˈiːst.
Mikhail Trilisser, the chief of the OGPU Foreign Branch (1922–1930), whose patronage Agabekov enjoyed, envisioned Istanbul as a base of Soviet espionage activity for the entire Near East.