Citizen of U.S. held in Russia

Moscow alleges espionage weeks after conviction

MOSCOW — A U.S. citizen has been detained in Moscow on espionage charges, Russia’s domestic security agency said Monday, just a few weeks after a Russian operative was convicted of conspiracy in the United States.

In a brief statement, the Russian agency said that an American, identified as Paul Nicholas Whelan, had been taken into custody Friday on suspicion of spying. The statement implied that he had been caught red-handed, saying that the arrest had occurred “during an act of espionage.”

A criminal case has been opened against Whelan, said the statement from the FSB, or Federal Security Service, which gave no other details.

Under Russian law, convictions in spying cases can carry prison terms of up to 20 years.

“We are aware of the detention of a U.S. citizen by Russian authorities,” a press officer for the State Department in Washington said by email Monday. “Russia’s obligations under the Vienna Convention require them to provide consular access. We have requested this access and expect Russian authorities to provide it.”

Further details about the case could not be provided because of privacy concerns, the press officer said.

The arrest comes amid tension in relations between Moscow and Washington, particularly over the issues of election hacking and influence peddling.

A Russian citizen, Maria Butina, 30, pleaded guilty Dec. 13 in U.S. District Court in Washington to a single charge of conspiring to act as a foreign agent. She admitted to being involved in an organized effort, backed by Russian officials, to try to lobby influential Americans in the National Rifle Association and the Republican Party.