Russia detains US citizen suspected of spying

Russia has opened a criminal case against a US citizen for alleged spying. Relations between Moscow and Washington have soured since Russia's annexation of Crimea and allegations Russia interfered with US elections.

An American man suspected of espionage was arrested in Moscow on December 28, Russia's domestic security service (FSB) said in a statement on Monday.

The FSB said the man was caught "during an espionage operation" without giving further details. A criminal case has been opened against him under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code, which allows for prison sentences of up to 20 years.

The state-run TASS news agency identified the man as Paul Whelan. The US Embassy in Moscow could not immediately be reached for comment.

Russia has been entangled in multiple spy scandals in the West. Russian agents are suspected of poisoning former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England. A Russian national, Maria Butina, was also convicted in the United States for acting as an illegal foreign agent.

Tensions between Moscow and Washington have intensified since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Since then, the US and other countries have imposed various sanctions against Russian officials, companies and banks. The US is also investigating whether Russia interfered in US elections in 2016.

Comments

خون عطیہ کرنے کے عالمی دن کی مناسبت سے پاکستان میں متعدد سرگرمیوں کا انعقاد کیا گیا، 20لاکھ لوگوں نے فیس بک پر سائن اَپ کیا

Bilawal’s arrest will be a dangerous game: Khursheed Shah

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Syed Khursheed Shah on Sunday said that the arrest of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would be a dangerous game, one that would create ripples in the country. Speaking to media in Islamabad, Shah said Prime Minister Imran Khan is creating uncertainty and a crisis situation in the country. “He [Imran Khan] has done nothing except arrest politicians. He is being asked to do things which no other politician would do.” Responding to a question regarding Bilawal’s arrest, Shah said that a lot of courage is needed to arrest him. “It is not possible to arrest him but nothing certain can be said about this government.” "There is no need for in-house change in Sindh because the cases have been made on the bases of assumptions and it is not possible to impose governor’s rule in the province,” the senior PPP leader said. “There is no place for it in the constitution. Governor rule can only be imposed through martial law.” The former opposition le

Slain JUI-S leader’s secretary ‘missing’ since the last few days

Late Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam-Sami (JUI-S) leader Maulana Samiul Haq’s secretary Syed Ahmed Shah has been missing from his house in Akora Khattak for the last three or four days. Mr Shah is said to have discovered Maulana Samiul Haq’s body. The late JUI-S leader was stabbed in his bedroom in a Safari Villa in Bahria Town in Nov 2. Doctors said the former senator had died an hour before he was brought to the hospital. Syed Ahmed Shah was also the first to inform Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, the son of Maulana Samiul Haq, of his father’s death. Syed Ahmed Shah discovered Maulana Samiul Haq’s body, informed his son of his death Maulana Hamid said Mr Shah has been missing the last three or four days. He said his family has been trying to call him on his mobile phone and that his phone has been switched off. He said Mr Shah may have either gone into hiding himself or may have been taken by the law enforcement or intelligence agencies in connection with the investigation into the JUI-S le

Pakistan News Urdu Fast

Search This Blog