The Russian secret service FSB has arrested a former employee of the US consulate in Vladivostok on allegations of espionage. The FSB reports that the Russian citizen collected information on the course of the “special military operation” on behalf of the US embassy. Russian officials describe the country’s war of aggression against neighboring Ukraine as a special military operation.
In addition, the man is accused of having passed on information about the mobilization processes in the regions and the potential for protests before the presidential elections in Russia to the political department of the embassy for a fee. In this context, the FSB says it also wants to interrogate two US diplomats. If convicted of colluding with foreign powers to harm national security, the suspect faces up to eight years in prison.
The incident threatens to further strain the already tense relationship between Russia and the United States.