Intelligence

Russian parliamentary 'spy' released on bail - BBC

RIA Novosti

14:30 14/12/2010 MOSCOW, December 14 (RIA Novosti) - Alleged Russian spy Katia Zatuliveter, detained by the British authorities in early December, told BBC Russia that she had been released on bail on Tuesday.

Zatuliveter, 25, an aide to Liberal Democrat MP Mike Hancock, who sits on the influential Defense Select Committee, was arrested on December 2.

It was initially reported that she was suspected of links to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), but later Britain informed Russia that the Dagestani-born parliamentary aide was detained on charges of violating immigration laws.

Zatuliveter declined to give further details and said she would make a statement later on Tuesday. She also said she would appeal the decision to deport her.

Britain's secret service, MI5, said Zatuliveter had access to classified documents supplied to the committee. Hancock recently initiated parliamentary questions about Britain's nuclear deterrent and the location of its international submarine bases. Hancock has denied Zatuliveter is a spy. She has also denied any wrongdoing.

British media quoted Russia's charge d'affaires in London, Alexander Sternik, as calling the charges of espionage "a PR stunt" designed to detract public attention from England's failed 2018 World Cup bid and WikiLeaks revelations.