'CIA spy' Fogle leaves Russia: TV
Iran Press TV
Sun May 19, 2013 8:39PM GMT
US diplomat Ryan Fogle, who was accused of spying for the CIA in Moscow, has left Russia, Russian television has reported.
On Sunday, NTV television broadcast footage showing Fogle going through passport control and security at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow.
Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on May 14 that Fogle, a 29-year-old third secretary in the US Embassy, had been caught trying to recruit a Russian intelligence agent in the Caucasus.
Russia declared Fogle 'persona non grata' for what the Russian foreign ministry called 'provocative actions in the spirit of the Cold War.'
Little is known publicly about Fogle's duties and activities in Russia. The US State Department confirmed he worked as an embassy employee but would give no details about his job. The CIA has made no comment.
Following the decision to expel Fogle, Russia publicized the identity of the CIA's chief in Moscow
A FSB spokesman said that back in 2011, his agency had "officially warned" the CIA station chief in Moscow over what it called "provocative recruiting moves towards Russian security services officers," and threatened "reciprocal measures towards CIA officers."
"We decided to warn our American colleagues and ask them to stop these activities," the FSB agent said.
It is common practice for the intelligence agencies of the United States and Russia to identify to each other their top officials in their respective embassies, but they are not identified publicly.
MN/HN
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