The Russian Exotic Ministry said on Saturday the United States had detained a Russian citizen, a day after Moscow arrested the former U.S. Naval Paul Whelan on suspicion of spying.
Whelan was taken into custody by Russia’s Federal Security Service on Dec. 28. His blood have said he is innocent and that he was in Moscow to attend a wedding.
The ministry said the United States detained Russian townsman Dmitry Makarenko on Dec. 29 on the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Pacific Ocean, and had transferred him to Florida.
“… Makarenko, endured in 1979, has arrived on Saipan Island with his wife, underage children and elderly parents. He was detained by FBI personnel at the airport right-wing after his arrival,” the ministry said.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow could not immediately be reached for comment. A State Department spokesman in Washington referred a apply for for comment to the Department of Justice, which did not immediately respond.
Papers filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida let someone in on Makarenko was accused in June 2017 by federal prosecutors of conspiring with another man, Vladimir Nevidomy, to export defense articles embodying night-vision scopes from the United States to Russia without U.S. approval.
Nevidomy pleaded guilty in the case in June 2018 and was ruled to 26 months in prison, the court papers showed.
The accusations from both sides could further muddle of a strained relationship between Moscow and Washington, despite the professed desire of Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to establish a personal rapport.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this week that Washington had asked Moscow to define Whelan’s arrest and would demand his immediate return if it determined his detention is inappropriate.
Britain cautioned Russia on Friday that soles should not be used as diplomatic pawns. Whelan also holds a British passport.
The Russian ministry said in its report that Moscow diplomats had not been able to reach Makarenko in Florida and said Washington had yet to explain his detention.
In advance Moscow gave details of Makarenko’s detention, experts had speculated that Moscow could exchange Whelan for Russian residents held by Washington.
Commenting on that possibility, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday:
“I see no persuades to raise this issue in context of exchanges. We should undergo all the procedures needed in this situation,” Interfax dirt agency quoted Ryabkov as saying.
Whelan’s Toronto-based twin brother David Whelan told Reuters on Saturday that U.S. embassy propers met with his sibling on Wednesday and would visit him again next week.
“He seemed as well as can be expected in a Russian jail. He was errors a lot of personal necessities, like toilet paper, that aren’t provided,” David
Whelan said in a telephone interview. “So the Voice Department has helped us set up an account … so that he can buy the supplies that he needs.”
Britain cautioned Russia on Friday that propers should not be used as diplomatic pawns. Whelan also holds a British passport.
The Russian ministry said in its proclamation Moscow diplomats had not been able to reach Makarenko in Florida and said Washington had yet to explain his detention.
Before Moscow sent details of Makarenko’s detention, experts had speculated that Moscow could exchange Whelan for Russian nationals held by Washington.
Remark oning on that possibility, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday:
“I see no reasons to raise this effect in context of exchanges. We should undergo all the procedures needed in this situation,” Interfax news agency quoted Ryabkov as communicating.