Russian security services have arrested a 55-year-old man accused of spying for New Zealand.
A report in the Moscow Times said the individual is alleged to have been gathering and sharing information that could be used against Russia.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said he is a Russian citizen and proactively established contact with representatives of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.
The Russian Federal Service said he is a Russian citizen and proactively established contact with representatives of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. (Source: Other)
The man, who has not been named, is being held in pre-trial detention on treason charges and could face life in prison.
He was arrested in Khabarovsk in Russia’s south-east. Video shot by the FSB and shown by Russian media shows the man being arrested on the street and home being searched.
The information hasn't been independently verified.
The SIS said in a statement that it "has a longstanding practice of not commenting on what may or may not be operational matters".
"It should also be noted that Russian state media are often not the most reliable source of accurate reporting."
The Moscow Times is an independent online newspaper, which according to the Associated Press moved its editorial operations out of the country in 2022 after the passage of a law imposing penalties for material regarded as discrediting the Russian military and its war in Ukraine.
Ambassador confirms Russian citizen suspected of high treason
Russia's Ambassador to New Zealand, Stanislav Krans, said it has come to the attention of the Russian embassy the FSB had "identified and suppressed unlawful actions by a Russian citizen suspected of committing a crime of high treason".
"According to the FSB, the suspect has provided the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service with information which could be used against the security of Russia. The investigation is currently underway," he said.
Speaking to media today, Defence Minister Chris Penk said he had seen the reports in Russian media but said it was "standard practice" to not comment on "matters which are operational in nature".
"We don't comment on matters alleged, including and especially in overseas media that may or may not have taken place in the first instance, but if they did they would be operational in nature.
"We’re not commenting on any aspect of what's been alleged by the Russian media."
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a man’s arrested for allegedly spying for New Zealand, and when to expect a fresh cold snap. (Source: 1News)
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