The Russian security services (FSB) announced Thursday that they have opened an investigation for “espionage” against a US citizen, amid a diplomatic crisis between Moscow and Washington linked to the conflict in Ukraine.
The FSB did not specify the identity of this American citizen, nor if he had been detained, nor even if he was in Russia or abroad.
“The American is suspected of collecting intelligence related to biological matters that go against the security of the Russian Federation,” the FSB said in a brief statement.
In Washington, the State Department said “it is aware of this unconfirmed information from an investigation targeting an American citizen” while stressing that “in general, Russia does not respect its obligations to notify in a timely manner any detention of US citizens in Russia.” “
“This is something we are closely monitoring and we are interacting directly with the Russian authorities,” spokesman Vedant Patel added.
Relations even more tense because of the prisoners
Several American citizens are currently detained in Russia, helping to poison relations between Moscow and Washington.
Americans and Russians accuse each other of detaining their respective citizens for political purposes. Several prisoner exchanges have taken place in the past.
Last month, Russia released American basketball star Brittney Griner, convicted of “drug trafficking” after entering Russia with a vaporizer containing cannabis oil, against a famous arms dealer detained in the United States, Viktor Bout.
A former US military officer, Paul Whelan, was arrested in Russia in 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison for “espionage”, despite his denials. He is still in jail.
Source: BFM TV
