U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
December 8, 1999

Today the U.S. Government apprehended and detained a Russian Diplomat, Second Secretary Stanislav Borisovich Gusev, who was gathering information from a listening device that was placed inside the State Department. He was detained by the FBI and, upon confirmation of his diplomatic immunity, subsequently released into the custody of Russian Embassy officials. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas R. Pickering called in Russian Ambassador Ushakov the afternoon of December 8 to firmly protest this action and inform the Ambassador that Mr. Gusev is persona non grata and must leave the United States within ten days.

Counterintelligence agents of the FBI and the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service have worked jointly together to neutralize this intelligence gathering effort. Secretary Albright expressed her appreciation for the professional and effective efforts of the two agencies to investigate and resolve this case.

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