American charged with espionage

An American has been arrested on suspicion of espionage, Russia’s domestic security service said on Monday.

MOSCOW — An American citizen has been arrested in Moscow on suspicion of espionage, Russia’s domestic security service, the FSB, said on Monday.

The agency identified the man as Paul Whelan. A criminal case has been opened against him.

The U.S. State Department said it had been notified of an American citizen’s detention by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs but could not confirm the name or provide more details, citing privacy considerations.

A State Department spokesman said the U.S. has asked for consular access and that “We ... expect Russian authorities to provide it.”

By Russian law, foreigners found guilty of spying face between 10 and 20 years in prison.

The arrest of the U.S. citizen comes as tensions between Washington and Moscow continue to escalate over a range of issues from election meddling to the crises in Syria and Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin, in his New Year’s greeting to President Donald Trump, said he was open to the pair meeting. Trump canceled a formal meeting with Putin at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires earlier this month over Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian naval vessels and crew.

In December, Russian gun rights activist Maria Butina pleaded guilty to conspiring with a senior Russian official to infiltrate American conservatives.

Shortly before Butina pleaded guilty, Putin said she was not known to any of his spy agencies. The country’s Foreign Ministry has gone to great lengths to paint Butina as a political prisoner.