DATE= 12/1/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223474

TITLE=RUSSIA / U-S ESPIONAGE UPDATE (S ONLY)

BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



///UPDATES WITH MAN'S IDENTIFICATION AND INFORMATION ON NATURE OF

HIS WORK///



INTRO: AN AMERICAN CITIZEN HAS BEEN DETAINED IN SOUTHERN RUSSIA

ON SUSPICION OF SPYING.  DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN IN

MOSCOW.



TEXT: AN AMERICAN, IDENTIFIED AS RICHARD L. BLISS, WAS TAKEN INTO

CUSTODY NOVEMBER 25TH IN THE CITY OF ROSTOV. RUSSIA'S FEDERAL

SECURITY SERVICE SAYS MR. BLISS IS ACCUSED OF OBTAINING SECRET

INFORMATION ABOUT BUILDINGS WHILE DOING SURVEY WORK WITH A

SATELLITE RECEIVER ILLEGALLY BROUGHT INTO THE COUNTRY.



U-S EMBASSY SPOKESMAN RICHARD HOAGLAND SAID MR. BLISS WORKS AS AN

ENGINEER FOR A SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, FIRM, UNDER CONTRACT TO A

RUSSIAN COMPANY TO INSTALL A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IN

ROSTOV.



                       ///HOAGLAND ACT///



         THESE ARE PRIVATE-SECTOR AMERICAN BUSINESS PEOPLE.

         AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO HAVE  NO  CONNECTION WITH THE U-S

         GOVERNMENT AND MOST CERTAINLY ARE  NOT  SPIES, AS IS

         BEING CHARGED IN THE RUSSIAN MEDIA.



                          ///END ACT///



MR. HOAGLAND SAID THE EMBASSY SENT A CONSULAR OFFICER TO ROSTOV

MONDAY TO MONITOR THE CASE. (SIGNED)



NEB/PFH/PCF



01-Dec-97 1:03 PM EST (1803 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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