Espionage

IN SECRET COURT TRIAL, RUSSIA CHARGES 'CIA SPY' WITH TREASON

A Russian national is on trial accused of state treason, with reports suggesting the charges relate to an attempt to hand over sensitive military information to foreign agencies, including the U.S.

Alexander Zhitnyuk is in custody and will remain so until January 29, next year, Moscow’s Lefortovo District Court announced in a statement Tuesday, state news agency Itar-Tass reports.

Because of the nature of the charges, the case is classified and any further details from court proceedings are not public at present.

Police first arrested Zhitnyuk and brought him to court last month, on November 30, but the court only made that information public this week, after some media outlets had already published anonymously sourced reports of the arrest.

It is not clear what criminal activities Zhitnyuk is suspected of carrying out or for whose benefit. According to Rosbalt—the site that broke the news of his detention on Monday—Zhitnyuk is accused of sending documents containing state secrets about the Russian Navy to “western special services.”

“The ultimate recipient of these items of information appeared to be the Central Intelligence Agency of the U.S.,” a law enforcement official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Rosbalt. He did not speculate further over whether anyone from U.S. intelligence had ever been in direct contact with the man. The CIA refused to comment on the reports.