DATE=4/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / SPY (L)
NUMBER=2-260968
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  Russian Security Services have detained a 
United States citizen in Moscow on suspicion of 
espionage.  Moscow correspondent Eve Conant 
reports Russian security officials have also 
detained a Russian citizen suspected of divulging 
state secrets.

TEXT:  Russia's Federal Security Service, or F-S-
B, on Wednesday confirmed that it had detained a 
U-S citizen for suspected espionage. 

///ACT FSB OFFICER IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE 
UNDER///

An F-S-B press officer - who would not give her 
name - says, "the U-S citizen is the head of a 
private company who previously worked as a staff 
official for U-S intelligence."  She adds that a 
Russian citizen was detained along with the U-S 
citizen, also on suspicion of espionage.

F-S-B officials say the Russian citizen was an 
expert in military affairs who worked for a 
Moscow organization.

///OPT/// Officials from the United States 
Embassy in Moscow would  not  comment on the 
case. ///END OPT///

An F-S-B statement says that while searching the 
U-S citizen's belongings, Russian investigators 
found signs that - in their words - "the 
foreigner intentionally developed contacts with 
Russian scientists in Moscow, Novosibirsk, and 
other," with what was described as "the goal of 
gathering Russian state secrets."

The F-S-B statement says investigators had 
confiscated items including technical drawings, 
recordings of conversations with Russian citizens 
who worked in the defense industry, and receipts 
for cash received in U-S dollars.

The statement said the Russian citizen who was 
detained with the suspected U-S spy was caught 
with a large amount of foreign currency.

The most recent spy scandal between Russia and 
the United States occurred late last year when 
Russian authorities expelled United States 
diplomat Cheri Leberknight after accusing her of 
trying to gather secret military information. 
Washington soon after expelled a Russian diplomat 
accused of planting a listening device in the 
State Department. (Signed)

NEB/EC/GE/KL 



05-Apr-2000 10:40 AM EDT (05-Apr-2000 1440 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.