DATE=4/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / SPY (L)
NUMBER=2-260968
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian Security Services have detained a
United States citizen in Moscow on suspicion of
espionage. Moscow correspondent Eve Conant
reports Russian security officials have also
detained a Russian citizen suspected of divulging
state secrets.
TEXT: Russia's Federal Security Service, or F-S-
B, on Wednesday confirmed that it had detained a
U-S citizen for suspected espionage.
///ACT FSB OFFICER IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE
UNDER///
An F-S-B press officer - who would not give her
name - says, "the U-S citizen is the head of a
private company who previously worked as a staff
official for U-S intelligence." She adds that a
Russian citizen was detained along with the U-S
citizen, also on suspicion of espionage.
F-S-B officials say the Russian citizen was an
expert in military affairs who worked for a
Moscow organization.
///OPT/// Officials from the United States
Embassy in Moscow would not comment on the
case. ///END OPT///
An F-S-B statement says that while searching the
U-S citizen's belongings, Russian investigators
found signs that - in their words - "the
foreigner intentionally developed contacts with
Russian scientists in Moscow, Novosibirsk, and
other," with what was described as "the goal of
gathering Russian state secrets."
The F-S-B statement says investigators had
confiscated items including technical drawings,
recordings of conversations with Russian citizens
who worked in the defense industry, and receipts
for cash received in U-S dollars.
The statement said the Russian citizen who was
detained with the suspected U-S spy was caught
with a large amount of foreign currency.
The most recent spy scandal between Russia and
the United States occurred late last year when
Russian authorities expelled United States
diplomat Cheri Leberknight after accusing her of
trying to gather secret military information.
Washington soon after expelled a Russian diplomat
accused of planting a listening device in the
State Department. (Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/KL
05-Apr-2000 10:40 AM EDT (05-Apr-2000 1440 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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