The alleged agent, Ryan C Fogle with the US embassy in Moscow
The US ambassador to Russia has been summoned over Moscow's claims it caught a CIA agent disguised in a blond wig trying to recruit one of its intelligence officers. Ambassador Michael McFaul entered the Russian foreign ministry headquarters in central Moscow on Wednesday morning and left half an hour later without saying a word to a swarm of journalists waiting outside, reports Sky News.
US diplomat Ryan Fogle, who is accused of working as a spy, was detained by Russian security officials on Tuesday. Moscow claimed he was caught red-handed, carrying specialist technical equipment, disguises including wigs and sunglasses, a large sum of money, and written instructions for recruiting a Russian citizen as a spy.
The one-page letter, released by the FSB, offered the would-be recruit a payment of £65,300 for an interview, as well as up to £653,000 a year in return for information requested by the US.
The letter asked the recruit to write to a Google email address and wait one week for a reply.
He was later handed over to US embassy staff, declared persona non grata and ordered to leave Russia immediately.
Russia claims he has been working undercover while serving as a third secretary at the US embassy in Moscow.
Fogle has diplomatic immunity, which protects him from arrest.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said: "Such provocative actions in the spirit of the Cold War will by no means promote the strengthening of mutual trust."
The State Department would only confirm that Fogle worked as an embassy employee, but would not give any details about his employment record or responsibilities in Russia.
There has been no response from the CIA on the matter.
Despite the end of the Cold War, Russia and the United States still maintain active espionage operations against each other.
Last year, several Russians were convicted in separate cases of spying for the US and given lengthy prison sentences.
No comments:
Post a Comment