WORLD
The group dubbed the 'Illegals' was tasked by the Russian intelligence agency SVR to enter the US, assume false identities and carry out espionage activities.
An incident reminiscent of the Cold War era hostilities, the US has arrested 10 people on charges of spying for Russia, angering Moscow to issue a stern warning that it would be a blow to the Obama-Medvedev 'burger' diplomacy and the 'reset' in bilateral ties.
The arrests were made on Sunday and yesterday in Boston, New York, New Jersey and Virginia, the Department of Justice announced today alleging that the group dubbed the "Illegals" was tasked by the Russian intelligence agency SVR to enter the US, assume false identities and carry out espionage activities.
The defendants, eight of whom are married couples, held jobs in fields such as finance and media. One of the defendants remains at large. The FBI said the arrests are a result of multi-year investigations.
"These Russian secret agents work to hide all connections between themselves and Russia, even as they act at the directions and under the control of SVR, these secrets agents are typically called "illegals", the FBI said in its complaint filed before a US court yesterday.
Reacting sharply to the arrest, Russia warned that it would be a blow to the recent 'burger' diplomacy between presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev and the 'reset' in bilateral ties.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow wanted an explanation from the United States over the arrest of the Russian "spies".
"They have not explained to us what is going on. I hope they will," Lavrov told journalists following talks with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman in Jerusalem, adding "the only thing I can say is that the timing was chosen with a particular care."
In documents submitted to the court, the FBI said the "Illegals" agents of the SVR generally receive extensive training before coming to the US.
This training has typically focused on, among other things, including the use of brush-passes, short-wave radio operation and invisible writing; the use of codes and ciphers, including the use of encrypted Morse code messages.
They were also adept in the "creation and use of a cover profession; counter-surveillance measures, concealment and destruction of equipment, and materials used in connection with their work as agents and avoidance of detection during their work as agents," the FBI alleged.
Each of those charge sheeted - eleven in all including 10 arrested - faces up to five years in prison. Nine of them have also been charge sheeted for money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment.
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