By Le Figaro with AFP
Posted 4 hours ago, updated 3 hours ago
The FSB did not reveal the identity of this American citizen, whether he had been arrested, or whether he was in Russia or abroad. Illustrative photo: Oleg / stock.adobe.com
Americans and Russians accuse each other of having imprisoned their respective nationals for political purposes.
The Russian Security Services (FSB) announced Thursday, January 19, that they had launched an investigation into “espionage” against an American citizen amid a diplomatic crisis between Moscow and Washington over the conflict in Ukraine.
The FSB did not reveal the identity of this American citizen, whether he had been arrested, or whether he was in Russia or abroad. “The American is suspected of gathering information on biological matters contrary to the security of the Russian Federation,” the FSB said in a brief statement.
Several prisoner exchanges have already taken place
Several American citizens are currently being held in Russia, which is helping to poison relations between Moscow and Washington. Americans and Russians accuse each other of having imprisoned their respective nationals for political purposes. Several prisoner exchanges have taken place in the past.
Last month Russia released American basketball star Brittney Griner, who was convicted of “drug trafficking” after entering Russia with a vaporizer containing cannabis oil against a famous arms dealer arrested in the United States, Viktor Bout .
A former US soldier, Paul Whelan, was arrested in Russia in 2018 and, despite his denial, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for “spying”. He’s still in prison.
SEE ALSO — Basketball player Brittney Griner was released in a prisoner swap between Russia and the United States