Moscow, Russia – The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Wednesday the arrest of a Moscow resident on charges of passing on personal information about Russian citizens to an intelligence agency of a NATO member state.
A statement issued by the press service of the security service explained that the suspect, a man born in 1988, is suspected of high treason. He initiated contact with a representative of an intelligence agency belonging to a NATO country and provided him with personal data and information about several Russian citizens with opposition views, with the aim of persuading them to cooperate with that foreign entity.
The statement indicated that security forces conducted searches at the suspect’s residence. The court also ordered his pretrial detention pending investigation, while efforts continue to uncover further details about the case.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed that the penalty for high treason under Russian law is life imprisonment. It also reiterated that its agencies continue their efforts to “monitor any activities that threaten Russian national security or involve cooperation with foreign intelligence services.”
