Russia's FSB announces arrest of alleged Estonian spy in St. Petersburg
Russian news agency Interfax has reported that a stateless resident of Estonia has been arrested in St. Petersburg, Russia for gathering classified information of military nature on orders from the Estonian authorities.
"Russia's FSB has detained Estonian resident and non-citizen Arsen Mardaleishvili, born 1969, in St. Petersburg on suspicion of committing a crime under Article 276 of the Russian Penal Code (espionage)," the Russian federal security service’s press center told Interfax on Friday.
According to the report, "Mardaleishvili, acting on orders from the Estonian Interior Ministry's Security Police Office, was purposefully collecting classified military information about the armed forces of Russia.”
The FSB press center also noted that a leak of military information to a foreign country "could have undermined the country's defense potential."
A criminal investigation has been opened.
In a brief comment, the Estonian Internal Security Service (KaPo) confirmed that they have been informed of the arrest.
Editor: Editor: Aili Sarapik
Source: BNS