The Russian secret service FSB has arrested a former employee of the US consulate in Vladivostok on espionage charges.
The man, a Russian citizen, gathered information for the US embassy during the special military operation in Ukraine.
The FSB stated on Monday that, using the Kremlin’s term for Russia’s invasion of its neighbour,
The man was also accused of passing on information about mobilisation processes and the potential for protests ahead of the Russian presidential elections.
He is said to have given this information to the embassy’s political department in exchange for payment.
The FSB said two US diplomats would be questioned in connection with the case.
If convicted of collaborating with foreign powers to harm national security, the suspect faces up to eight years in prison.
The incident threatened to strain the already strained relationship between Russia and the United States in the midst of the ongoing war.
Similar arrests have occurred in the past, with the goal of later exchanging the detainees for Russian citizens held by the US.
The Russian intelligence service arrested Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges earlier this year.
Gershkovich and the newspaper both denied the accusations.
The journalist has been in detention since the end of March.
dpa/NAN
