Russian security service arrests US citizen over alleged spying

2024-07-07 14:48:32

Russia has detained a US citizen in Moscow accused of spying, the FSB security service said on Monday.

A statement by the FSB identified the American in Russian, using a name that appeared to translate as Paul Whelan.

Whelan was arrested on Friday 'while carrying out an act of espionage', the FSB said.

The FSB, Russia's main counter-espionage service, gave no further details.

A criminal investigation into espionage has been opened, and if found guilty, he faces between 10 and 20 years in jail. There has been no US confirmation yet.

No other details were immediately available.

The arrest came with Russia embroiled in a number of spy scandals with the West, from the alleged poisoning by Russian agents of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England to the US conviction of Russian Maria Butina for acting as an illegal foreign agent.

Monika Walker is a senior journalist specializing in regional and international politics, offering in-depth analysis on governance, diplomacy, and key global developments. With a degree in International Journalism, she is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices through factual reporting. She also covers world news across every genre, providing readers with balanced and timely insights that connect the Caribbean to global conversations.